Country profile ECU
Context
Context
| Year | Age group | Proportion | Gender | Indicator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5-17 | 4.522 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2021 | 5-17 | 3.93 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2021 | 5-17 | 4.236 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
National Legal Framework
National Legal Framework
| Provision | Legislation date | Convention | Legislation info | sources | Value | sort_order | Provision description | Legislation description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Is the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs, prohibited? | 2014-02-10 | C182 | Penal Code - Article 219 ; Code of Childhood and Adolescence - Article 70 | [{"link_name":"-Penal Code","source_link":"https://www.defensa.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2021/03/COIP_act_feb-2021.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Code of Childhood and Adolescence","source_link":"https://www.igualdad.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2017/11/codigo_ninezyadolescencia.pdf"}] | Yes | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | In Ecuador, the prohibition of the use, procuring, or offering of children for illicit activities, including drug production and trafficking, is stipulated in the Code of Childhood and Adolescence and in the Penal Code. Article 70 of the Code of Childhood and Adolescence includes drug trafficking and other illict activities in the concept of child trafficking. Article 219 of the Penal Code Prohibits the production, trafficking, or commercialization of illegal drugs. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 2014-02-10 | C182 | Penal Code - Article 100, Article 101 | [{"link_name":"Penal Code","source_link":"https://www.defensa.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2021/03/COIP_act_feb-2021.pdf"}] | Yes | 10 | C182 prohibits the use of a child under the age of 18 for prostitution, regardless of the child's consent. The use, procuring or offering of any person under the age of 18 for commercial sexual exploitation constitutes a worst form of child labour, even if prostitution is a legalised. In regard to the prohibition of child pornography, States need to make sure that national legislation addresses the involvement of a child in the production of pornographic materials, including non-recorded performances. | In Ecuador, the prohibition of the use, procuring, or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and/or for the production of pornography is stipulated in the Penal Code. Article 100 of the Penal Code prohibits the use of children for prostitution. It defines and penalizes the act of promoting, facilitating, or coercing a child into engaging in prostitution. Article 101 of the Penal Code addresses the production, distribution, and commercialization of child pornography, making it illegal to involve children in the production of pornographic materials. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | 2014-02-10 ; 2025-06-05 | C182 | Penal Code - Articles 91, 127 ; Decree No.21 - Article 1 | [{"link_name":"-Penal Code","source_link":"https://www.defensa.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2021/03/COIP_act_feb-2021.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Decree No.21","source_link":"https://www.teleamazonas.com/uploads/files/2025/06/05/Decreto_21_20250505211244.pdf"}] | Yes | 9 | C182 defines forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict as a worst form of child labour. Nevertheless, C182 only prohibits the forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18, and does not cover the voluntary recruitment of children under 18. | Article 127 of the Penal Code makes it illegal to recruit children under the age of 18 for any form of armed conflict, whether in official armed forces or other armed groups. Additionally, Article 91 of the Penal Code also includes provisions against human trafficking, which covers forced recruitment. Article 1 of Decree No.21 further reinforces this prohibition. |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2014-02-10 | C182 | Penal Code - Articles 9, 92 and Articles 100-104 | [{"link_name":"Penal Code","source_link":"https://www.defensa.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2021/03/COIP_act_feb-2021.pdf"}] | Yes | 8 | C182 defines all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour as worst forms of child labour. | Article 91 of the Penal Code prohibits trafficking in persons, including children, for various forms of exploitation such as forced labour, slavery, and sexual exploitation. Article 92 specifies penalties for those involved in the trafficking of persons, emphasising severe punishment for trafficking children. Articles 100-104 address various forms of commercial sexual exploitation of children, including prostitution and pornography. |
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 2005-12-16 | C138 & C182 | Labour Code - Article 138 | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://www.ces.gob.ec/lotaip/2020/Junio/Literal_a2/C%C3%B3digo%20del%20Trabajo.pdf"}] | Yes | 7 | C138 and C182 require the national determination of a list of hazardous work prohibited for children under 18 years of age. The competent authorities should consult with workers' and employers' organizations to determine what types of employment or work are considered to be hazardous. Such a list shall be periodically examined and revised as necessary. | Article 138 of the Labour code outlines the types of work considered hazardous and reaffirms that individuals under 18 years of age are prohibited from performing such work. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 2003-07-03 | C138 & C182 | Code of Childhood and Adolescence - Articles 81, 87, 93 | [{"link_name":"Code of Childhood and Adolescence","source_link":"https://www.registrocivil.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2014/01/este-es-06-C%C3%93DIGO-DE-LA-NI%C3%91EZ-Y-ADOLESCENCIA-Leyes-conexas.pdf"}] | 18 | 6 | C138 and C182 set 18 as the minimum age for hazardous work, which is defined as work that, due to its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to jeopardize children’s health, safety or morals. C138 and C182 allow countries to permit hazardous work exceptionally as from 16, provided that the health, safety and morals of the young persons concerned are fully protected and that they have received adequate specific instruction or training. | Articles 81, 87, 93 of the Code of Childhood and Adolescence explicitly prohibits children and adolescents from engaging in hazardous work. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | 2005-12-16 | C138 | Labour Code - Articles 18, 157 and 168 | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://www.ces.gob.ec/lotaip/2020/Junio/Literal_a2/C%C3%B3digo%20del%20Trabajo.pdf"}] | 15 | 5 | C138 does not apply to work done in school for general, vocational or technical education or in training institutions or work done by children at least 14 years of age in undertakings, where such work is carried out in accordance with conditions prescribed by the competent authority. Such work must be an integral part of: (i) a course of education or training for which a school or training institution is primarily responsible; (ii) a programme of training mainly or entirely in an undertaking, which programme has been approved by the competent authority; or (iii) a programme of guidance or orientation designed to facilitate the choice of an occupation or of a line of training. | As regulated by Articles 18, 157 and 168 of the Code, the minimum age for admission to apprenticeship is set to 15 years. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 2011-03-31 | C138 | Education Law (Organic Law of Intercultural Education) - Articles 38, 42 | [{"link_name":"Education Law (Organic Law of Intercultural Education)","source_link":"https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/text/513872"}] | Yes | 4 | C138 requires member States to align the age of completion of compulsory education with the minimum age for admission to employment or work. | Article 42 of the Education Law makes Basic general education - made up of ten years - compulsory. In addition Article 38 of the Education Law establishes that people under 15 years of age with unfinished schooling have the right to basic general education and high school education. Thereby setting the age of completion of compulsory education at 15 in line with the minimum age for admission to work as per the Code of Childhood and Adolescence. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | 2005-12-16 | C138 | Labour Code - Article 138 | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://www.ces.gob.ec/lotaip/2020/Junio/Literal_a2/C%C3%B3digo%20del%20Trabajo.pdf"}] | Yes | 3 | If the country chooses to allow light work, States must determine what activities are considered light work, and the hours and the circumstances under which they may be carried out. | The types and conditions under which light work may be carried out are determined in the Labour Code. |
| Minimum age for light work | 2008 ; 2005-12-16 | C138 | Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador - Article 46. 2 ; Labour Code - Article 35.f | [{"link_name":"-Labour Code","source_link":"https://www.ces.gob.ec/lotaip/2020/Junio/Literal_a2/C%C3%B3digo%20del%20Trabajo.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador","source_link":"https://www.oas.org/juridico/pdfs/mesicic4_ecu_const.pdf"}] | 15 | 2 | C138 defines light work as work that does not interfere with children’s schooling, or their ability to benefit from it, and that is not hazardous. C138 allows countries to permit light work for children younger than the general minimum age. For countries that set the minimum age at 15, this means children aged 13-14, and for those that set it at 14, children aged 12-13 may engage in light work. | The minimum age for light work is set at 15 years. |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 2003-07-03 | C138 | Code of Childhood and Adolescence - Article 82 | [{"link_name":"Code of Childhood and Adolescence","source_link":"https://www.registrocivil.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2014/01/este-es-06-C%C3%93DIGO-DE-LA-NI%C3%91EZ-Y-ADOLESCENCIA-Leyes-conexas.pdf"}] | 15 | 1 | C138 establishes 15 as the minimum age for work in general. Developing countries have the option of setting a minimum age of 14 as a transitional measure as they strengthen their education systems and economies. | In Ecuador, the minimum age for admission to work is established by the Code of Childhood and Adolescence. Article 82 of the Code states that minors under the age of 15 are prohibited from engaging in any type of work, including domestic service. |
International Legal Framework
International Legal Framework
| Ratification status | Convention | Convention description | Date of ratification | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in-force | C182 | Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) | 19-SEP-2000 | Source |
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 19-SEP-2000 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On 6 September 2023, Ministerial Agreement No. MDT-2023-112 enacted the Reform of the Organic Statute of the Ministry of Labour, which institutionalised the eradication of child labour in the Directorate of Priority Groups and provided for: "Management of Priority Groups: Mission To prevent, promote, and protect the labour rights of priority groups and persons in vulnerable situations, as well as to contribute to the eradication of child labour and hazardous adolescent labour through the application and strengthening of public policy, regulations, and national and international instruments with a gender focus." To reach such goal, it has been notably set to ; manage and implement awareness-raising processes on labour rights with an emphasis on priority groups and/or those in vulnerable situations, including the eradication of child labour and hazardous work for adolescents; formulate and manage the implementation and enforcement of public policies and/or regulations on labour matters, with regard to priority groups and/or those in vulnerable situations, including the eradication of child labour and hazardous work for adolescents; manage and/or address, as well as follow up on cases of alleged violations of the rights of priority groups and/or those in vulnerable situations, as well as child labour and hazardous adolescent labour. | [{"link_name":"Ministerial Agreement No. MDT-2023-112","source_link":"https://www.trabajo.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACUERDO-MINISTERIAL-Nro.-MDT-2023-112.pdf"}] | 2023 | Ministerial Agreement No. MDT-2023-112 | Ministry of Labour |
| By Ministerial Agreement No. MIES-2023-012 of the Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion of Ecuador (MIES), published in the Third Supplement to Official Register No. 267, of 13 March 2023, the reform of the Technical Standard for the Eradication of Child Labour was issued. This is part of the MIES's special protection public policy and seeks to promote and restore the rights of children and adolescents in child labour situations through the implementation of a national comprehensive intervention strategy, in joint responsibility with the family and the community, whose objective is to provide comprehensive care for children and/or adolescents who are engaged in child labour, including those branches of dangerous activities, promoting conditions of equality and social inclusion in joint responsibility between the State, the family and the community. | [{"link_name":"Ministerial Agreement No. MIES-2023-012 of the Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion","source_link":"https://www.desarrollohumano.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/terial_-_normas_tecnicas_proteccion_especial_sips-eti-men-hc_final0243124001675372978-signed.pdf"}] | 2023 | Ministerial Agreement No. MIES-2023-012 of the Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion | Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion |
| In its CEACR Direct Request adopted in 2021 on the C138, the Committee notes that, in the context of the National Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour between 2017 and April 2020, 693 labour controls and 11 017 inspections were carried out, of which 12.1 per cent were related to child labour. It further notes that 804 girls and boys engaged in child labour were referred to the cantonal systems for the protection of rights and that 84 boys and girls between the ages of 9 and 14 years engaged in child labour were identified in work in mechanics, catering, banana growing, family enterprises and general trading. | [{"link_name":"CEACR Direct Request","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4116640,102616:NO"}] | 2018-2022 (TBC) | National Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour | Ministry of Labour |