ILO proposes a participatory government system for the IESS, without legal reform

The International Labor Organization (ILO) released this morning a proposal to generate participatory governance of the IESS. This proposal, which is a new management and participation model for organizations, seeks better participation by social actors, greater transparency, and the generation of better accountability mechanisms. For the ILO, the current moment is not opportune to consider a legal reform on the subject, but to use the existing institutional path.

In this sense, the idea is that instances of participation of all interested sectors (workers, retirees, pensioners, employers) can be promoted, at the level of territories, thematic axes, through commissions, technical groups or citizen oversight. The idea, in the first instance, is that these participatory entities could focus on the issues of policy design, supervision, and control.

Carlos Paladines Marchán, director of the Strategic Alliance Foundation and ILO consultant, who participated in the preparation of the proposal, highlighted the importance of good governance in the IESS.

Carlos Paladines explained that there are issues that affect governance in an institution, for example instability, mistrust and insecurity, In the case of the IESS, it can be seen that there are issues that can affect it, such as the deficit, complaints of corruption, and high turnover of directors.

commented that For example, this type of open government promotes the necessary dialogue. For example, it is currently being discussed whether or not to increase the retirement age. He maintains that a discussion on the matter from all the actors it can give legitimacy to the decisions made in this regard.

The proposal is announced at a time when the IESS has a vacuum on governance, especially if you take into account that there is a ruling by the Constitutional Court that has asked the Assembly to make a law that guarantees broader participation especially from the sectors of workers and employers. However, the resulting legislative work was the subject of various criticisms at the social level, and was finally totally vetoed by the Government. Next June the law may be debated again, with respect to paragraphs 2 and 3 of article 28 of the Social Security Law and it is not known what the results will be.

Eduardo Rodríguez, who was the ILO’s dialogue and governance specialist, highlighted the conclusion of the ILO’s work that determines that “there is no need for legal reforms to strengthen governance.” However, he made it clear that in 32 days it will be 6 years since the issuance of the Court’s ruling and that the lack of renewal generates a lack of legitimacy in the governing body, and derived from it the lack of accountability. accounts.

He also pointed out that it should be taken into account that good governance is linked to the independence and autonomy of the institution itself, as established by the Ecuadorian Constitution. However, he said there have been shortcomings in its enforcement. He also highlighted that there is an obligation of the State to contribute to the IESS and these payments, historically, have come with delays, for which he considers that mechanisms must be established so that they are fulfilled in a timely manner.

StopOdríguez, there is a risk that in the face of the system’s deficiencies, voices appear that consider privatization as a way out, but he considered that the real way out is the strengthening and democratization of the government.

Also participating in today’s event Xavier Sisa, legal secretary of the Chamber of Industries and Production (IPC), as well as Jaime Arciniegas representative of the Labor Parliament, who agreed that the ILO proposal is a viable one.

Arciniegas said that the IESS president’s proposal to increase the age of members for your retirement, as well as the recalculation of pensions, are “blind shots” and do not solve the real problem. Arciniegas explained that a greater contribution is required and that for this it is also necessary to include informal workers in the system.

For his part, Xavier Sisa commented that it is important to start thinking about the social security model that one wants to have.