Presentation of the Profile of Occupational Safety and Health in Ecuador

The study, a pioneer in the country, offers a comprehensive and detailed view of the situation in the labor field. This report has been prepared in collaboration with leading researchers from Espiritu Santo University, SEK International University and Pompeu Fabra University in Spain, which guarantees a rigorous academic and scientific approach.

This report is based on the country's official data sources and examines 45 indicators distributed in various dimensions, including the regulatory and institutional framework, the production structure, the labor market, working conditions, health, and preventive resources and activities.

The most relevant results include the following:

• The adequate employment rate has experienced a decrease for both men and women between 2014 and 2022, with underemployment increasing to over 50% of the labor force in this same period.
• The proportion of people aged 15 and older without social security coverage has increased between 2019 and 2022, from 67% to 71% in women, and from 60% to 64% in men.
• The occupational hazards of greatest exposure include falls, blows, noise and ergonomic hazards, especially repetitive movements. These mainly affect the working population in agricultural and industrial activities.
• In the country, there is a daily average of 43 non-fatal injuries and 1 fatal injury every two days. There is an underreporting of occupational diseases, 650 cases annually, so it is likely that the official data significantly underestimate the real figure.
• The rate of labor inspectors, at 0.4 per 20,000 workers, is currently below international recommendations, which establish a ratio of 1 inspector per 20,000 workers.
• Preventive activities related to occupational medical examinations in companies barely exceed 10%.

Through this approach, the report aims to contribute to the design of more effective and appropriate public policies that not only improve worker protection, but also promote a safer and healthier working environment.

In addition, Ecuador's Occupational Safety and Health Profile is the first in a series of country profiles that will be developed for other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean as part of a regional effort to improve working and health conditions in the region.