Labor tensions and the erosion of stability: structural causes and social consequences of arbitrary dismissals in Ecuador
Keywords:
Arbitrary dismissal, job stability, labor rights, precarious employment, labor justiceAbstract
Unjustified dismissal remains a persistent issue in Ecuador’s labor market, with serious legal, economic, and social repercussions. Structural causes include normative gaps, weak enforcement mechanisms, and limited employer accountability. These practices not only undermine job stability but also violate the right to decent work, increase informality and job insecurity, and negatively affect workers’ mental well-being. Furthermore, the inefficiency of reparatory and punitive mechanisms fails to deter such practices. The erosion of labor stability directly weakens social cohesion and hampers sustainable economic development. Thus, it is crucial to reinforce the legal framework, implement effective public protection policies, and foster a culture of labor rights compliance across all productive sectors.
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