Ecuador Footwear Industry Calls For Safeguards For Chinese Products

August 4th, when asked about the current situation of footwear industry in Ecuador,

The president of the Tong River Shoe Association (CALTU) said that the shoe industry in Ecuador is the largest footwear production area in the country. It has been well recovered after the 2008 crisis caused by the influx of China's footwear industry.

"China's footwear," she said.

"In 2008 of the year of crisis, our country produced only 15 million pairs of shoes, but by the end of 2010, the output has risen to 24 million pairs. We expect to produce about 31 million pairs of shoes this year, that is, 2011."

"In 2008, there were only 600 footwear manufacturers in the region, but there are now 3500 manufacturers of different sizes engaged in footwear production.

The production of footwear in Tong Gu La province occupies 50% of all footwear in Ecuador, and the industry is also known as the first employer in the province because it provides about 1700 direct employment opportunities, but in the whole country, we have counted 100 personnel serving the footwear industry directly or indirectly, but maybe 30% of them are irregular workers.

The president of the CALTU said: "the government should train the informal producers so that they can perform the obligation of all employees to register in the social insurance system.

However, due to the high turnover rate in the industry, there should be some laws applicable to the industry. "

Villaviciencio maintains that "in order to maintain the development of our industry, we need to formulate long-term safeguards, because the industry has not fully recovered. If we shelve this measure instead of executing it, it will cause damage to the whole industry".

Another point Villavicencio thinks is important: "we should train our employees so that they can better engage in the industry."

She explained: "most employees have learned about footwear trade in the workshop."

"At present," she said.