Inside The Americas

Today's program looks at the debate on Ecuador labor code. On September 17, demonstrations were held in Quito, Ecuador, in favor and against the proposed reforms to the country's labor legislation. The opposition march ended in violent clashes with police, prompting President Rafael Correa to charge that right-wing infiltrators provoked the disturbances, an accusation strongly denied by the march organizers. The new Labor Code, which updates the 1948 legislation, broadens access to the social security and health care system and provides greater protection to traditionally marginalized sectors such as women, the disabled, Afro-Ecuadorians, and the LGBT community. It comes on the heels of major advances for working people, such as the doubling of the minimum wage and increasing social security and health care coverage from 26% to 43% of the population. Liz Scherffius reports from Quito.