Uruguay - 2011

Background

Social measures to protect against the effects of the world economic crisis have been adopted through a process of social dialogue social dialogue Discussion and co-operation between the social partners on matters of common interest, such as economic and social policy. Involves participation by the state where tripartism is practice. . The government and trade unions have put forward a wide-ranging programme for the promotion of collective bargaining collective bargaining The process of negotiating mutually acceptable terms and conditions of employment as well as regulating industrial relations between one or more workers’ representatives, trade unions, or trade union centres on the one hand and an employer, a group of employers or one or more employers’ organisations on the other.

See collective bargaining agreement
, although some problems remain in the public sector, and some companies still violate trade union rights.

Mid-crisis, the Uruguayan economy has grown faster than the regional average, while unemployment has remained low, formal employment has increased and over the last three years the minimum wage has risen by 65%. The ILO International Labour Organization A tripartite United Nations (UN) agency established in 1919 to promote working and living conditions. The main international body charged with developing and overseeing international labour standards.

See tripartism, ITUC Guide to international trade union rights noted that union membership and the number of workers covered by collective agreements has increased in Uruguay.

ILO Core Conventions Ratified:
29 Forced Labour (1930) 87 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise (1948) 98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (1949) 100 Equal Remuneration for Work of Equal Value (1951) 105 Abolition of Forced Labour (1957) 111 Discrimination in Employment and Occupation (1958) 138 Minimum Age for Employment (1973) 182 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (1999)
Population:
Capital: Montevideo

reported violations- 2011

Documented violations - actual number of cases may be higher

Trade union rights in law

There are some areas of concern despite basic trade union rights being secured. The Constitution guarantees freedom of association freedom of association The right to form and join the trade union of one’s choosing as well as the right of unions to operate freely and carry out their activities without undue interference.

See Guide to the ITUC international trade union rights framework and recognises the right to strike strike The most common form of industrial action, a strike is a concerted stoppage of work by employees for a limited period of time. Can assume a wide variety of forms.

See general strike, intermittent strike, rotating strike, sit-down strike, sympathy strike, wildcat strike as a trade union right. Workers are adequately protected against acts of anti-union discrimination anti-union discrimination Any practice that disadvantages a worker or a group of workers on grounds of their past, current or prospective trade union membership, their legitimate trade union activities, or their use of trade union services. Can constitute dismissal, transfer, demotion, harassment and the like.

See Guide to the ITUC international trade union rights framework

 and dismissal, and the law also provides for reinstatement in the case a unionist is unfairly dismissed.

While the right to collective bargaining collective bargaining The process of negotiating mutually acceptable terms and conditions of employment as well as regulating industrial relations between one or more workers’ representatives, trade unions, or trade union centres on the one hand and an employer, a group of employers or one or more employers’ organisations on the other.

See collective bargaining agreement
is recognised in law, it is mostly carried out by branch of activity, with Wages Councils regulating the minimum wage and working conditions for each category of workers. The Wages Councils are tripartite bodies, and the Ministry of Labour is one of the negotiating parties. The ILO International Labour Organization A tripartite United Nations (UN) agency established in 1919 to promote working and living conditions. The main international body charged with developing and overseeing international labour standards.

See tripartism, ITUC Guide to international trade union rights has held that the possibility of a vote being held in the Councils for setting conditions of employment infringes upon the principle of free and voluntary bargaining.

Additional information regarding the legislation
ILO Core Conventions Ratified:
29 Forced Labour (1930) 87 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise (1948) 98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (1949) 100 Equal Remuneration for Work of Equal Value (1951) 105 Abolition of Forced Labour (1957) 111 Discrimination in Employment and Occupation (1958) 138 Minimum Age for Employment (1973) 182 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (1999)
Population:
Capital: Montevideo

reported violations - 2011

Documented violations - actual number of cases may be higher

Violations

Anti union practices at companies subcontracted by UPM cellulose factory : Several companies that were outsourced to supply raw materials to the Finnish cellulose factory UPM engaged in anti union practices against their employees during the year, including anti-union dismissals and the failure to respect wage agreements with workers. The Cargo Transport and Related Industries Workers Union (SUTCRA) urged the multinational company UPM to ensure that the companies it outsourced to respected trade union rights and paid workers the full pay packet, under pain of ending their supply of raw materials to the factory, which was the real beneficiary of the contractors.
Anti-union discrimination at Prosegur: The Prosegur Uruguay Workers’ Union (SITPRO) were the victims of anti-union discrimination anti-union discrimination Any practice that disadvantages a worker or a group of workers on grounds of their past, current or prospective trade union membership, their legitimate trade union activities, or their use of trade union services. Can constitute dismissal, transfer, demotion, harassment and the like.

See Guide to the ITUC international trade union rights framework

 by the company, which imposed a heavier workload on unionised workers than on the rest of its employees, obliging them to work in sub-human conditions. Similarly, there were delays in paying all the workers at the company, and salaries were reduced following the application of an illegal system for recording working time.
Demonstrations against failure of private security companies to negotiate : Employees of the multinational companies Prosegur, G4S y Securitas and of local private security companies in Uruguay held public demonstrations to demand compliance with the law on the creation of Wage Councils, a bargaining mechanism whereby both workers and employers agree on progressive wage adjustments in a specific branch of activity over a given period of time. The unions were waiting for collective bargaining collective bargaining The process of negotiating mutually acceptable terms and conditions of employment as well as regulating industrial relations between one or more workers’ representatives, trade unions, or trade union centres on the one hand and an employer, a group of employers or one or more employers’ organisations on the other.

See collective bargaining agreement
to begin at the time of writing.
ILO Core Conventions Ratified:
29 Forced Labour (1930) 87 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise (1948) 98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (1949) 100 Equal Remuneration for Work of Equal Value (1951) 105 Abolition of Forced Labour (1957) 111 Discrimination in Employment and Occupation (1958) 138 Minimum Age for Employment (1973) 182 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (1999)
Population:
Capital: Montevideo

reported violations - 2011

Documented violations - actual number of cases may be higher
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