Diario las Américas., 1958-04-04
Know thy
Nei9hbotI
By ANTONIO RUIZ

ECUADOR - The first social Sc
curity institution in Ecuador was
the Pension Fund (Caja de Pen
siones), established in 1928. The
present compulsory system of So
cial insurance, created by law in
1885, and subsequently expanded
by additional legislation, is ad-
ministereo by the National So
cial Security Institute (Instituto
Nacional de Provision Social),
through its two agencies: The
Pension Fund and the Social In
surance Fund (Caja del Seguro).
The former is the social security
agency for public, bank and in
Surance company employees, its
own personnel, the military and
any voluntary affiliates; the lat
ter is the agency for private en-
ployeS and all workers not cover
ed by the Pension Fund; disabili-
ty and old age insurance; widow
hood and orphans insurance.
Social Security benefits include
sickness and maternity insurance,
and insurance against occupation
al accidents and sisease. The funds
of the "Caja de. SECURE" are deriv-
ed from three main sources: y in
dividual contributions of 5 per
cent of the wages of insured work
ers; q seven per cent of the same
wages contributed by the employ
er, and - contributions by the
Government, derived from real
estate and other taxes and reve-
nues specifically earmarked for
the Fund.
The Social Security System en-
braces all private employees and
workers in general with the power
to broaden its scope to all workers
- farm workers, independent
workers and artisantS, home
workers domestic servants, etc.
The National Institute has been
extending social security benefits
to all these workers as rapidly as
facilities permit. The Ministry of
Social Welfare and Labor has a So
cial Service Section which d.
reefs its activities toward improv.
ing home life, protecting infants
and minors, and assisting in ma
ternity cases.
The National School of Social
Service and the Mariana de Jesus
Social Service School, both in
Quito, train social workers who are
assigned to a variety of public
Institutions, including infant and
maternity centers, juvenile courts,
o~rphanages and re-education CEN
tiers, ~dispensaries and HOSPITALS.
The Central Public Assistance
Boards in addition to running hos
pitfalls and welfare institutions, are
actively engaged in social service
work.
With the exception of compul-
sorry social security, all matters re.
lating to labor are regulated by
the L abor Code enacte
5, 1888, and subsequent amend.
ments, the basic principles of
which are contained in Article 1876
of the Constitution. The Code re,
gulates hours, wages, and working
conditions, individual and collec.
tive contracts, trade unions, strikes
and settlement of labor disputes.
Minimum wages are revised every
two years by the Minimum Wage
Commission in each province.
The maximum working day in
Ecuador Is eight hours, and for
underground work six hours. Work
ing periods may not exceed "A
hours a week, except for overtime
work as provided by the Code. In
addition to compulsory days of
rest and civic holidays, all workers
and employees are entitled to a va.
cation of fifteen consecutive work.
ing days with pay per year.
The right of workers to or.
ganize trade unions and fedora.
tons is guaranteed by the Consti.
tuition and by the Labor Code. as
is the right to strike, subject to
certain regulations. The Labor AID.
ministratlon Direction y Subdi-
reccion del Trabajo) and the La.
Dor. Commissions (Comisarias del
Trabajo) r responsible for the
enforcement of the Labor Code.
together with the Supreme Courts
and the Boards of Cancellation and
Arbitration. There are labor in
spectors for each province, each
with a number of assistants accord.
ing to the needs of the region,
Spanish Version Page 3