Social inclusion, discrimination and labor market insertion in Ecuador: More than one page to turn

There are many signs of discrimination and social exclusion that, for different reasons, continue to reveal the profound inequality of rights experienced and suffered by numerous segments and groups in contemporary society. Among such inequalities are exclusion for reasons of ethnicity, gender or physical disabilities, three of the most recognized for their incidence in spheres such as labor insertion and its salary retribution, education, where they continue to be shown with persistence in the statistics exhibited on a global, national and local scale. The objective of this article is to describe the state of some of these indicators and to approach their concrete manifestation in certain areas and sectors of Ecuadorian life at present, as well as to compare measures and regulations that have been adopted in this country to reduce gaps. For this purpose, a case study methodology was used, with an essentially qualitative approach, combining documentary and bibliographic analysis with interview variants, direct observation and the results of a survey of 400 inhabitants of the city of Guayaquil subject to racial discrimination or affected by physical disabilities. It is concluded that inequalities and exclusions based on ethnicity or disability are evident in Ecuador, especially in terms of access to the labor market.