The Cámara de Industrias y Producción (CIP) held the Labor Law Forum 2026 on April 24, bringing together representatives from the public and private sectors, academia, and workers to discuss current and future challenges in Ecuador’s labor landscape.
The forum aimed to foster dialogue on strengthening productive sectors, generating employment, and advancing toward a more competitive, inclusive, and sustainable work environment. María Paz Jervis, Executive President of CIP, opened the event by highlighting the importance of such discussions for building a stronger workforce.
Harold Burbano, Minister of Labor, shared the government’s perspective on key employment challenges facing the country. Mauricio Falcón, technical director at CIP, presented a study on employability that emphasized preparation and adaptability in response to new job opportunities. The official handover of this study—jointly prepared by CIP and the International Labour Organization—to Burbano was noted as a significant moment during the event.
Panel discussions covered several fundamental topics: regulation of digital platform work with attention to balancing flexibility and labor rights; impacts of big data and artificial intelligence in workplaces; issues related to harassment, discrimination, and violence at work; reforms regarding employer-sponsored retirement plans; and broader labor law reforms needed in Ecuador. Experts from various fields contributed analysis and proposals throughout these sessions.
The event concluded with remarks from Thomas Wissing of the International Labour Organization and Paúl Corral, legal director at CIP. Both underscored the need for continued technical dialogue and collaborative solution-building within Ecuador’s labor sector.
CIP expressed gratitude to participants as well as sponsors Bustamante Fabara, Corral Rosales, Dentons Paz Horowitz, Falconí Puig Abogados, Lexvalor Abogados; collaborators included the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Universidad San Francisco de Quito.
