Former Ecuadorian railway workers demand unpaid legal settlements

A group of 154 former employees of Ferrocarriles del Ecuador Empresa Pública en Liquidación (FEEP-EP) is demanding the payment of labor settlements that were judicially ordered in September 2024. The workers have appealed to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT), arguing that under Executive Decree 1057, the ministry is responsible for assuming the railway company's outstanding obligations.

The legal dispute began in July 2020. The workers reported obtaining a unanimous favorable ruling in 2023, which was subsequently ratified in a second instance. Furthermore, the Constitutional Court rejected an extraordinary protection action filed by the public company, leaving the judicial decision in favor of the workers in effect.

Despite the court order issued on September 18, 2024, and a seizure order from May 2025, the former employees claim they have yet to receive their funds. The collective has called for the intervention of Minister Roberto Luque to ensure the administrative procedures are completed and the payments are made immediately.