Contracts and legal requirements

Your rights as a worker in Ecuador

Contracts and legal requirements

Ecuador’s labour laws work largely in favour of the employee and there are a number of important benefits you should receive from your employer. We’ve listed the most important of these below, as well as visa requirements for working in the country.

Visas

If your job in Ecuador requires you to be there for more than three months, you’ll need a work visa. For this your company will need to provide a letter outlining why you were contracted and the importance of your job. You’ll also need an RUC number. See our Ecuador visas & permits guide for more on work visas. Your company should help you with the process.

Leave

You are entitled to 15 days of paid holiday per year. After five years, you are entitled to one extra day per year worked with a maximum of 15 extra days.

Christmas bonus

On 24th December you are entitled to a bonus equivalent to a twelfth of all wages earned in the year, not including social benefits.

Profit sharing

The Labour Code states that employees are entitled to 15 percent of the employers’ profits until 15th April every year.

Pension fund

Your employer is required to deposit in an account a monthly pension payment starting from your second year of work. You should receive this on a pro rata basis in your normal monthly salary, rather than at the end of your contract.

Indemnities/severance

If you have worked for your employer for at least three years and decide to end your contract (with justified cause), you are entitled to a severance payment. This is worked out depending on how long you’ve worked for the company, and what your salary is.

If your employer terminates your contract early for any reason, you won’t be entitled to these benefits.

Further reading

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