Ecuador Fires 5,000 Public Workers Amid Pressure to Cut Spending

Ecuador’s government is firing 5,000 civil servants and cutting down the number of ministries and related public offices by about 40% as President Daniel Noboa struggles to balance the nation’s budget.

The unexpected restructuring of the executive branch announced Thursday evening was Noboa’s first austerity measure since winning reelection in April. It came just days after the International Monetary Fund approved additional financial support for the country.