Police fire tear gas during protest against labor reform in Ecuador

The government extended the daily work shift from 8 to 10 hours with a weekly cap of 40 hours, triggering protests by hundreds of workers, students and teachers in Quito and police use of tear gas. The episode raises near-term political and social risk in Ecuador and could modestly weigh on emerging-market sentiment and local FX, though immediate broader market impact is likely limited.

Analysis

The government extended the daily work shift from 8 to 10 hours with a weekly cap of 40 hours, triggering protests by hundreds of workers, students and teachers in Quito and police use of tear gas. The episode raises near-term political and social risk in Ecuador and could modestly weigh on emerging-market sentiment and local FX, though immediate broader market impact is likely limited.