In Uruguay, the law stipulates that employees who have completed one year of continuous service with the same employer are entitled to 20 days of paid vacation leave. This entitlement increases to 30 days of paid vacation leave after five years of continuous service. For those employees who have less than a year of service, the leave is calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Entitlement Considerations

• Continuous Service: The entitlement to vacation leave is dependent on uninterrupted employment with the same employer.
• Scheduling: Although employers and employees are encouraged to collaborate in agreeing on vacation periods, the final authority in determining schedules rests with the employers.
• Unused Leave: The law does not allow for the accumulation of vacation days from one year to the next. Furthermore, these days cannot be compensated for financially unless the employment relationship comes to an end.

These regulations are stipulated in Ley 12.590, also known as the Vacation Leave Law.

Uruguay celebrates a variety of public holidays throughout the year. These holidays are a mix of national and religious observances.

National Holidays

Uruguay's national holidays include:

• New Year's Day: Celebrated on January 1st.
• Carnival: This is a two-day celebration that takes place in February or March, with the exact dates varying each year.
• Tourism Week: This holiday usually coincides with Easter, but the dates can vary annually.
• Landing of the Thirty-Three Orientals: This holiday is observed on April 19th.
• Labor Day: Celebrated on May 1st.
• Battle of Las Piedras: This holiday is observed on May 18th.
• Natalicio de Artigas (Artigas's Birthday): Celebrated on June 19th.
• Constitution Day: This holiday is observed on July 18th.
• Independence Day: Celebrated on August 25th.
• Children's Day: This holiday is observed on the second Sunday of August.
• Race Day (Día de la Raza): This holiday is observed on October 12th.
• All Souls Day: Celebrated on November 2nd.
• Christmas Day: Celebrated on December 25th.

Religious Holidays

In addition to national holidays, Uruguay also observes certain Christian holidays. However, the dates for these holidays may vary based on the religious calendar. These include:

• Epiphany: Celebrated on January 6th.
• Easter Holidays: This includes Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

It's important to note that the dates for Carnival, Tourism Week, and some religious holidays change each year. Therefore, it's advisable to verify the specific dates closer to the time, especially when planning travel.

In Uruguay, employees are entitled to various types of leave.

Annual Leave (Vacation Leave)

After one year of service, employees are entitled to 20 days of paid annual leave. This increases to 30 days after five years of continuous service.

Sick Leave

Employees are entitled to paid sick leave with a medical certificate. The duration of sick leave depends on the length of service and the nature of the illness.

Maternity Leave

Female employees are entitled to 14 weeks of paid maternity leave, which includes 6 weeks before and 8 weeks after childbirth.

Other Notable Leave Types

Paternity Leave

Male employees are generally entitled to a short period of paid leave upon the birth of their child, usually around 3-10 days depending on the employer's policies.

Marriage Leave

Employees may be entitled to a few days of paid leave around their marriage.

Study Leave

Leave to pursue studies may be granted, but is often at the employer's discretion.

Important Considerations

Employers may offer more generous leave provisions than required by law. These would be outlined in employment contracts or policies. Some leaves may have eligibility requirements related to social security contributions.