Expand your business into Uruguay, with or without an Uruguayan entity
Uruguay has an export-heavy economy, a well-educated population, and a huge amount of potential for future growth, all of which make it an excellent destination for foreign investment. However, the country’s regulations can be difficult to navigate, and expansion into Uruguay can take longer than expected.
At New Horizons, we work to help businesses from any and all industries expand into Uruguay. Our professional employer organization (PEO), employer of record, and payroll services can offer you everything you need to start your Uruguayan expansion rapidly, efficiently, and compliantly.
Our services give you everything you need to start operating in the Uruguayan market, potentially saving you thousands of Pesos in expansion costs and getting you up and running faster.
Our Uruguay PEO simplifies your expansion
New Horizons can help you expand into Uruguay, even if you don’t have a Uruguayan subsidiary
Rapid Market Entry
New Horizons will enable you to source, hire, and onboard professionals across Uruguay in as little as 48 hours.
Cost-Effective Expansion
Our PEO solution can help you benefit from cost savings of up to 82%, without the need to establish an Uruguay entity.
Payroll Services
Simplified Uruguay salary & payroll processing, including any tax, withholdings, and any other required contributions.
Employee Onboarding
Utilize the relevant provision for all types of Uruguay labor contracts, whether a fixed-term or open-ended contract.
Onsite Legal & HR Team
Full support for Uruguay-specific contract renewals, terminations, annual leave management, HR, and strategic guidance.
Ensure Full Compliance
We ensure that employment contracts are fully compliant and adhere to Uruguay labor laws and best practices.
Hiring in Uruguay: Employment law overview
Employment contracts in Uruguay
When hiring employees in Uruguay, we strongly recommend that you put a written employment contract in place. Contracts should include any relevant details of the employment agreement, be written in Spanish, and use the Uruguayan peso as currency.
Working hours in Uruguay
The standard working week for employees in Uruguay is 48 hours spread across five days of work.
Public holidays in Uruguay
Date | Description | 1 Jan | New Year’s Day |
|---|---|
6 Jan | Children’s Day |
24 Feb | Carnival Monday |
25 Feb | Carnival Tuesday |
01 Mar | Presidential Inauguration Day |
06 – 08 Apr | Bank Holiday |
09 Apr | Maundy Thursday |
10 Apr | Good Friday |
20 Apr | Landing of the 33 Patriots Day |
01 May | Labour Day |
18 May | Battle of Las Piedras |
19 Jun | Artigas’ Birthday |
18 Jul | Constitution Day |
25 Aug | Independence Day |
12 Oct | Day of the Races |
02 Nov | All Souls’ Day |
25 Dec | Day of the Family |
Uruguay vacation leave
Employees in Uruguay are entitled to at least 20 days of paid leave annually.
Sick leave in Uruguay
Employees in Uruguay can receive paid sick leave after the fourth day of absence.
Maternity and paternity leave in Uruguay
Female employees in Uruguay are entitled to 14 weeks of paid maternity leave. Male employees are entitled to 10 days of paid paternity leave.
Employee severance and terminations in Uruguay
There is no legally mandated minimum notice period for terminations in Uruguay, but it is good practice to offer one. Severance payments usually equal one month of salary for every year with an employer, up to six months of pay in total.
Taxation in Uruguay
The income tax system in Uruguay is progressive, with rates of between 0% and 36% depending on income level.
The corporate tax rate in Uruguay is generally 25%.
Health coverage in Uruguay
There is a social healthcare system in Uruguay, but employers also regularly offer private medical insurance as a benefit of employment.
Uruguay compensations & benefits
Compensation Laws in Uruguay
The minimum wage in Uruguay is 16,300 pesos per month for full-time employees.
Benefit management in Uruguay
Building a benefits system for your Uruguayan workforce can be difficult and complicated to navigate if you are not familiar with the country, its customs, and its employment laws. To set it up independently, it can take several weeks and potentially lead to unexpected delays.
At New Horizons, we specialize in running the setup and management of Uruguayan employee benefits systems so you don’t have to. We’ll take care of everything, using our knowledge and experience to ensure you are compliant and ready to hire in Uruguay.
Discover how to hire in
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How can New Horizons assist your expansion into Uruguay?
New Horizons’ Uruguay PEO, employer of record, and payroll services provide businesses with everything they need to commence trading in Uruguay as rapidly as possible. Our expansion experts will help you set up your operation and start trading in Uruguay in as little as 48 hours, and could save as much as 82% in expansion costs, whether or not you have registered an entity in the country.
Our team can take care of your organization’s benefits, expenses, payroll, and compliance work in Uruguay, along with any ongoing HR administration. As the only global PEO with an in-house recruitment team, New Horizons can also find, hire, and onboard your local employees, using our Uruguayan subsidiary as employer of record so you don’t need to establish an entity.
Get in touch with our team to learn more about how our services could help you expand into Uruguay more effectively.
