ANALYSIS OF MIGRANTS’ RIGHT TO WORK IN RELATION TO THE PARTICULARITIES OF THE SPECIAL REGIME IN GALÁPAGOS.

Abstract

This article examines the right to work of temporary residents in the Galápagos Islands in light of the tension between this right and the specific features of the Galápagos Special Regime. It is based on the premise that the right to work constitutes a manifestation of human dignity and a fundamental right; therefore, job stability is an essential component of this right, although it is not absolute, as it may be restricted for purposes of constitutional relevance. In this context, Galápagos is analyzed as a territory subject to a special regime established to safeguard a vulnerable ecosystem that has been declared a Natural World Heritage Site, where specific migration categories and limitations on residence, employment, and mobility exist. The Organic Law of the Special Regime of the Province of Galápagos (2015) reinforces this model by incorporating comprehensive sustainability and granting preferential access to permanent residents. Finally, the article’s main objective is to define the limits of the right to work of temporary residents and to argue that such limits may be constitutional, provided that they effectively ensure the fulfillment of the constitutional purpose they pursue.