Employment Law – The Basics

The Uruguayan labour force is the best educated in Latin America, with many English speakers and well-qualified professionals in many fields.

While Uruguay's labour market is characterized by strong protections, it is still an attractive place in which to open business, particularly for regional operations.

The applicable legal norms for hiring workers in Uruguay are set out in the Constitution, specific Laws and Decrees, and regulations from the Ministry of Labour.

Much of Uruguay's labour legislation is based on international norms adopted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). These norms establish a set of guarantees to protect employees, which at the same time act as a limit to the rights of the employer.