Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Ecuador to protest against the government’s economic response to the coronavirus outbreak
QUITO, Sept 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Ecuadorian government was able to save more than 56,000 jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to a Humanitarian Aid Law that was put into force in June to combat the socio-economic crisis, President Lenin Moreno said.
“The Humanitarian Aid Law that the government presented (in May) before the National Assembly is bearing fruit and today is showing positive results,” the president said in a message to the nation.
“Not only did we protect more than 56,000 workers, but also we facilitated the creation of 104,000 new jobs,” said the president.
The government initiative was approved by the National Assembly on May 15 and entered into force on June 22, allowing employers to cut hours for employees by up to 50 percent while preserving the position, among other measures to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic on employment.
In June, the unemployment rate in Ecuador skyrocketed to 13.3 percent, the highest figure recorded since 2007, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC).
To date, Ecuador has reported 117,175 cases and 6,674 deaths from COVID-19. — NNN-XINHUA
