español

Abstract

In Ecuador, despite the rights-based constitutional framework that enshrines work as a fundamental right, a gap persists between labor regulations and their practical application in the private security sector. This sector exhibits a systemic decline in working conditions, manifested in extended shifts that exceed regulatory limits, inadequate pay for hazardous duties, evasion of social security obligations, and a lack of protective equipment. This research analyzed the structural causes, manifestations, and consequences of labor precarization in private security thru an analytical qualitative approach with a cross-sectional design, combining deductive, hermeneutic, and analytical-synthetic methods. Data collection techniques included documentary analysis of current regulations, semi-structured interviews with labor law professionals, and surveys of security guards in the city of Manta. The findings reveal that precariousness stems from market saturation with predatory competition, deficient oversight that fails to apply the principle of primacy of reality, and sectoral regulatory gaps. Methodological triangulation confirms the gap between the constitutional ideal and actual labor practices. It is concluded that overcoming this problem requires strengthening specialized labor inspection, regulating minimum service fees to prevent competition based on exploitation, and implementing mandatory training on labor rights, thereby aligning sectoral practice with constitutional commitments and the achievement of the sustainable development goal.