STORY: Protesters took to the streets of Quito on Friday (March 13), expressing growing discontent with President Daniel Noboa's administration over labor reforms, budget cuts, and rising insecurity, escalating tensions in the Andean nation's capital.

In a day marked by heavy police presence, demonstrators chanted slogans and carried signs reading "Noboa out" as they condemned policies they argued have worsened unemployment and public service deficiencies. Tear gas filled the air as police in riot gear sought to disperse crowds, while protesters burned U.S. flags and marched with signs highlighting job insecurity.

Nelson Erazo, president of the Popular Front, criticized Noboa's government, stating: "This is the beginning of new actions to overturn all the policies that are currently affecting people who lack medicine, those who lack access to healthcare ... in the face of the unemployment that we Ecuadoreans are experiencing today."

The protest, organized by prominent social organizations, including the United Workers' Front (FUT) and the National Educators Union (UNE), follows the enactment of Ministerial Agreement MDT-2026-059, which labor unions argue will undermine job stability by allowing greater flexibility in work schedules. According to the document, the 40-hour work week may be distributed across daily shifts of no more than 10 hours each over the course of five days a week.

"This marks the beginning of extensive days of fighting in different cities across the country," said Geovanni Atarihuana, director of Unidad Popular. "We do not agree with a reform that makes jobs precarious."

Opposition groups have vowed to continue mobilizing in the days ahead unless the government reconsiders its economic strategy.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: QUITO, ECUADOR (MARCH 13, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. PROTESTERS DRAGGING METAL FENCE

2. POLICE IN RIOT GEAR APPROACHING PROTESTERS

3. POLICE SHOOTING TEAR GAS CANISTERS AGAINST PROTESTERS

4. VARIOUS OF MOTORIZED POLICE ON THE STREETS CHASING PROTESTERS

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT OF THE POPULAR FRONT, NELSON ERAZO, SAYING

“It is clear that within this context, the discontent of the Ecuadorean people is growing; this is the beginning of new actions to overturn all the policies that are currently affecting people who lack medicine, those who lack access to healthcare amid the insecurity plaguing the country, but above all in the face of the unemployment that we Ecuadoreans are experiencing today—we workers are mobilizing."

6. MARCH PARTICIPANTS SHOUTING SLOGANS, CARRYING GIANT CARDBOARD RAT

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL UNION OF EDUCATORS (UNE), MERY ZAMORA, SAYING:

“Today we tell Noboa: if his government doesn’t change, we will change the government. That is why the cry echoing across the country—‘Noboa out, Trump’s lackey’—rises up here in Quito today. Therefore, we stand with the Ecuadorean people who today are telling Noboa to leave.”

8. PROTESTERS WITH SIGNS READING (Spanish) "NOBOA OUT"

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DIRECTOR OF UNIDAD POPULAR, GEOVANNI ATARIHUANA, SAYING:

“We do not agree with a reform that makes jobs precarious; we do not agree with the confiscation of funds from municipalities and provincial councils. Today marks the beginning of extensive days of fighting in different cities across the country, and today, in massive numbers, we answer the call of the UNE, the Popular Front, the United Workers' Front, and CONASEP. We are out in the streets in massive numbers to say, ‘Noboa, get out!’”

10. MARCH IN PROGRESS

11. PEOPLE WEARING MASKS WAVING BILLS IN THEIR HANDS

12. SKELETON PUPPET HOLDING CARRYING SIGN READING (Spanish) "THERE'S NO JOBS"

13. INDIGENOUS PERSON IN THE MARCH

14. VARIOUS OF MARCH IN PROGRESS

15. PROTESTERS CARRYING ECUADOR FLAG

16. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS BURNING U.S. FLAG