Ten years of makeup for officials: Court unravels 'irregular' hiring at Hemocentro de Maldonado

A woman provided makeup services to officials at the Hemocentro de Maldonado for nearly ten years under an arrangement that a Uruguayan court has deemed irregular.

The practice was reportedly routine, with makeup sessions recorded on official logs. Multiple witnesses testified that the directive to provide these services originated from the Hemocentro's management. A former employee stated that Jorge Curbelo, the then-director, required staff to get their makeup done and sometimes pressed personnel about it.

The arrangement started in 2013 without a clear formal contract. Initially, the worker set her own fees, which were financed through "collaborations." Later, her remuneration was channeled through outsourced companies. Curbelo acknowledged during the trial that he, as the technical director, made the decision to hire her and evaluated her performance.

The company through which the woman was eventually registered had been contracted by the Administration of State Health Services (ASSE) for cleaning, tisanery, and green area maintenance services. This meant she was formally listed under a different category while continuing her makeup work at the Hemocentro.

In the initial ruling, Judge Ecatherina Cardozo found a discrepancy between the labor documentation and the actual tasks performed. She rejected the explanation of a normal outsourcing relationship and applied the concept of a "complex employer," holding multiple entities responsible when they organize, direct, or benefit from an individual's work, regardless of formal employment status. ASSE, Fundación Hemovida, and the outsourcing company were consequently ordered to pay various damages, including severance, vacation pay, bonuses, dismissal compensation, fines, and interest. ASSE and Fundación Hemovida have appealed the decision.