Articles
Business intelligence and analysis on Ecuador
Guayaquil Motorcycle Registration Compliance at 25% for 2026
As of September 2026, 75% of Guayaquil's motorcycle fleet, totaling an estimated 231,799 units, remains unregistered. The Authority of Transit and Mobility (ATM) reports a current compliance level of 25% for motorcycle registration.
Ecuador Implements Temporary Curfew in Four Provinces
A temporary curfew will be in effect in Guayas, Manabí, Los Ríos, and El Oro from September 17 to September 30, 2026, restricting circulation daily between 00:00 and 05:00. The measure aims to intensify operations against organized crime.
Cayambe Hospital Project Awarded Following Years of Announcements
President Daniel Noboa announced on September 10, 2026, that the new Cayambe Hospital project has been awarded, a development that follows over six years of prior announcements. The facility is projected to benefit more than 140,000 individuals.
Ecuador Labor Ministry Reports 9,327 Inspections in 2026
Ecuador’s labor ministry says it has carried out 9,327 inspections nationwide during 2026. A USD 9,640 sanction in La Troncal shows how IESS affiliation, disability-inclusion quotas, and cooperation with inspectors can combine into a maximum penalty.
Ecuador’s Proposed USD 240 Million Hospital Platform Is an Execution Test
Ecuador’s Ministry of Public Health is advancing a proposed USD 240 million interoperable health platform involving CNT and Italy’s Dedalus. The key business variables are procurement award, infrastructure delivery, phased rollout, and the October technical-operating target.
SRI September Projection Window Reopens a Withholding Lever for Qualifying Employees
The SRI allows qualifying dependent employees earning more than USD 12,208 annually or USD 1,017.33 monthly to update personal-expense projections through September 30. The change can affect monthly income-tax withholding, but unsupported expenses may create a later payment difference.
CNE Adds Online Card Payments to the Electoral-Fine Collection Stack
Ecuador's National Electoral Council says electoral fines can now be paid online with Visa and Mastercard through cne.gob.ec. The change expands the collection stack ahead of the November 29, 2026 sectional and CPCCS elections while leaving bank and Facilito routes in place.
Ecuador Census Review Raises a Data-Quality Risk for Local Analysis
An international review requested by INEC says VOPA imputation reached 4.7% to 5%, representing 759,103 people not directly counted, and rose to 10% when incomplete and corrected records were included.
Pachakutik Faces a September Electoral and Registration Test
The TCE is scheduled to hold a September 3 evidence hearing involving CNE allegations about missing financial reports and documents tied to the April 2024 referendum campaign.
Guayaquil Employment Fair Offers 3,000 Vacancies, but the Market Data Is Still Incomplete
The Ministry of Labor is holding an 80-company job fair at the Instituto Tecnologico Bolivariano on August 21. The event offers about 3,000 vacancies while INEC has not yet published the June or second-quarter 2026 labor surveys.
Ecuador Advances Three-Phase Plan for 222 Temporary Judges
Ecuador’s Council of the Judiciary approved a three-phase methodology to appoint 222 temporary judges during the judicial emergency declared in July. The process addresses court capacity but leaves open questions about the duration and institutional safeguards of temporary appointments.
Ecuador Wants Tax Incentives Tied More Closely to Results
Ecuador is reviewing its tax-incentive system under the ACE 2040 agenda, with a proposed emphasis on results rather than broad eligibility. The redesign could affect how companies evaluate future investment support.