All About Employee Leave & PTO in Uruguay
Learn what you need to know about leave requirements in Uruguay and how Justworks EOR can help streamline hiring.
How an EOR Can Help with Employee Leave & PTO
Before hiring in Uruguay, it’s important to understand the local approach to paid time off and employee leave. These policies matter to employees and play a big role in attracting and retaining talent. Justworks makes international hiring simple by helping you comply with Uruguayan labor laws and cultural norms. With built-in support and a simple solution, you can focus on building your team instead of getting caught up in red tape. Expand confidently, all from one platform.
Employee Leave & PTO Expectations in Uruguay
In Uruguay, employees are entitled to paid annual vacation, sick leave, and maternity or paternity leave, as well as some other types of special leave.
Vacation Leave
In Uruguay, employees are entitled to 20 days of paid vacation leave after completing one year of service. This increases by one additional day for every four years worked with the same employer. Vacation pay must be provided ahead of leave and is calculated based on the employee’s regular wages. Vacation pay is pay equal to an employee's standard pay in addition to the standard salary they would receive during vacation. For example, if an employee makes $100/day regularly, and is going to take five days of vacation, they would be entitled to a $500 payment in addition to their regular salary.Â
Sick Leave Â
Employees are entitled to paid sick leave for illness or injury, with benefits managed by the Social Security Bank (BPS). To qualify, employees must notify their employer as soon as possible and provide a medical certificate from a registered doctor. Employers usually cover the first three days of sick leave each calendar year. After that, the BPS pays a portion of the employee’s salary. BPS may cover the employee for up to one year due to illness, with a possible one-year extension, or two non consecutive years within a four-year period, for the same condition.
Maternity LeaveÂ
Pregnant employees are entitled to 14 weeks of paid maternity leave, usually starting six weeks before the expected due date and continuing for eight weeks after the birth. The timing can be adjusted if medically necessary. During this leave, the Social Security Bank (BPS) provides payment, typically equal to the employee’s full salary.
Paternity Leave
In Uruguay, employees are entitled to three days of paternity leave (the day of birth and the two following days), paid by the employer, provided the employee submits supporting documentation within 20 business days. After this initial period, the employee is entitled to an additional 13 continuous days of paternity leave. During this time, BPS pays a paternity subsidy equivalent to the average of the employee’s taxable daily income over the previous six months, including proportional payments for the thirteenth salary, vacation leave, and vacation pay. This period will be extended to 17 continuous days as of January 1st, 2026.
Other Types of Leave
In addition to standard leave, employees in Uruguay may have access to other types of time off, depending on their industry or collective bargaining agreements.Â
For example, bereavement leave, while not required by law, is often granted when a close family member passes away. Study leave is also common, enabling employees to take time off for exams if they’re enrolled in school or training programs. Marriage leave allows for three days off to celebrate a wedding. Special leave can also be granted for medical appointments or civic responsibilities. Leave can vary by employer, so it's important to establish an agreement or policy for employees to reference.
Public Holidays in Uruguay
In Uruguay, workers get paid for five main public holidays even if they don’t work:
New Years Day: January 1
Labor Day: May 1
Constitution Day: July 18
Independence Day: August 25
Christmas Day: December 25
If someone does work on these days, they must be paid double.
There are also two additional paid holidays:
Census Day
March 1 (only when there’s a presidential inauguration, every 5 years)
Other holidays like Carnival Monday and Tuesday, January 6, Holy Week, and a few others are called "ordinary holidays." Monthly salaried employees still get paid the same during these days, whether they work or not, because their salary already includes pay for holidays and rest days.
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