Ecudaorian President Takes Pay Cut Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The president of Ecuador, Lenin Moreno, has, along with other top members in his administration, taken a 50 percent pay cut, as the country struggles in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Ecuador has recorded over 30,000 coronavirus cases, falling behind Brazil and Peru with 163,000 and 67,307 cases respectively.

The South-American country also has a total of 1,654 deaths.

The Ecuadorian president's salary falls around $5,000.

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According to the president's office, the government of Ecuador will work to “reduce by fifty percent the salaries of the President of the Republic, the Vice-President of the Republic, the ministers and the vice-ministers”.

Also adding that “The fall in state revenues, a result of the COVID-19 crisis, has had negative effects on the country’s economy, which is why it is imperative to reduce the salaries” of the country's top officials.

The minimum wage in Ecuador is equivalent to $400, and this cut will force a review of wages in the public sector as the law in the country states that no civil servant can earn higher than the president.