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Uruguay: Meatpacking workers' holiday on May 28
🇺🇾 Uruguay /Economy & Trade

Uruguay: Meatpacking workers' holiday on May 28

From El País · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • Uruguay observes the non-working holiday for Meatpacking Plant Workers on May 28 each year.
  • Employees in the meatpacking industry are entitled to paid leave or double pay if they work on this holiday.
  • June 19 marks another holiday, the Natalicio de Artigas, which is a working holiday but affects public services and some private entities.

Uruguayans in the meatpacking sector will observe a non-working holiday on Thursday, May 28, 2026. This annual observance, known as the Day of the Meatpacking Plant Worker, was established during the Sixth Round of Wage Councils.

The agreement stipulates that May 28 will be a paid non-working holiday for all workers covered by the accord. This specifically applies to sub-group 1 of group 2, identified as the "Meatpacking Industry." Employees in this sector will receive their regular pay as if they had worked. Should they choose to work on this holiday, they are entitled to double pay, in accordance with Article 18 of Law No. 12.590.

Looking ahead to June, Uruguayans will have another holiday on Friday, June 19, 2026, celebrating the birth of national hero José Gervasio Artigas. While this is a working holiday, public offices, educational centers, and some private institutions will be closed, allowing for a long weekend for many. This date also coincides with Grandparents' Day, often a time for family gatherings.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El País in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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