Not everyone will receive the full $482 of Ecuador's 14th salary

Workers in Ecuador's Sierra and Amazon regions are approaching the August 15, 2026 deadline to receive their "décimo cuarto sueldo," commonly known as the school bonus. This benefit, set at the Unified Basic Salary (SBU) of $482 for the year, is subject to varying payment modalities chosen by the employee and the duration of their employment.

Ecuadorian labor law allows workers to receive this benefit either as a lump sum or spread out in monthly installments. For those in the Sierra and Amazon regions, the accumulated payment is due by August 15. Conversely, workers in the Costa and Galápagos regions receive their payment by March 15.

Crucially, employees who opted for the monthly payment plan will not receive an additional deposit in August. Their bonus has already been disbursed in twelve equal installments, each amounting to approximately $40.16 (SBU divided by 12). This does not signify a loss of entitlement but rather reflects their chosen payment method.

Furthermore, the amount disbursed is prorated for individuals who have not worked the entire calculation period. To receive the full $482, an employee must have maintained continuous employment with the same employer from August 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026. Those who started their employment after this date or changed jobs will receive a proportional amount based on their actual time worked.

If a worker did not complete the full twelve months, the benefit is calculated by dividing the SBU by twelve and multiplying by the number of months worked. For example, six months of work would yield approximately $240.96. This labor right is recognized for employees under a dependency relationship, domestic workers, retirees from IESS, and pensioners from Issfa and Isspol. Employers face sanctions for non-compliance with these payment regulations.