Refugees' experience of the right to work in Ecuador

To have work is to have life, refugees' experience with the right to work in Ecuador, a June 2011 Asylum Access report 

This report was researched and drafted by Karolien van Teijlingen at Asylum Access Ecuador, a local office of Asylum Access. Asylum Access is a US- based international nonprofit organization dedicated to making refugee rights a reality in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Asylum Access achieve this mission by providing legal information, advice and representation directly to refugees in their first countries of refuge, and by advocating for the rights of refugees worldwide.

Key Findings

• Refugees in Ecuador are explicitly guaranteed by law the right to work and to start businesses. This basic protection allows many refugees to provide for their families, contribute to the Ecuadorian economy, and rebuild their lives after violence and persecution.
• Like many Ecuadorians, refugees struggle to find work, especially in the current economic crisis. In addition to high unemployment, many refugees struggle with xenophobia that makes some employers reluctant to hire them.
• Some refugees complain that they are denied labor protections guaranteed by law. 
• Asylum-seekers with pending refugee cases have difficulty working because Ecuadorian legislation does not explicitly provide for their right to work, although the Constitution protects the rights of “everyone.” This ambiguity is interpreted restrictively by both employers and government officials.