For Marcela Arellano, president of the Ecuadorian Confederation of Free Trade Union Organizations (Ceosl), the increase in minimum income to $482 per month is insufficient given the cost of living.

Arellano noted that the basic family food basket costs $821 and the essential needs basket costs $576, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC).

“We are concerned that a consensus was reached on a downward adjustment. This shows that the Council of Labor and Wages is not representative and that those who sit on it do not understand the reality of those who earn the basic salary,” the union leader stated.

From the government, Labor Minister Harold Burbano has maintained that an Ecuadorian household earns an average of 1.6 times the basic salary and that, therefore, it is incorrect to compare the Unified Basic Salary (SBU) with the cost of a basic food basket.

Arellano questioned this argument and asserted that “there is no clear economic basis” to support it.

The unions also warned of a possible price increase in 2026, due to rising fuel costs and the end of transportation subsidies for the diesel price hike, implemented in September and initially planned for eight months.

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