On Friday, August 25, 2023, Uruguay commemorates the 197th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. This date is one of the five paid public holidays established by law in the country. The others are January 1, May 1, July 18, and December 25.
In addition, there are other paid holidays established through collective bargaining agreements or labor awards for specific sectors. For example: Rural Workers’ Day on April 30, Domestic Workers’ Day on August 19, and Fishermen’s Dayon January 2, among others.
On these dates, every worker is entitled to receive their salary as if they had worked; and if they do work, they receive double pay.
This means that if a monthly-paid worker works on a paid holiday, they must receive their full monthly salary plus an additional day’s pay.
If the worker is paid by the day and works on a paid holiday, they receive double the daily wage.
Therefore, there is no prohibition against working on a declared paid holiday. Instead, a special compensation applies in case the employee works.
Indeed, it is specified that when the legislator intends to establish mandatory rest, the holiday must be declared a non-working holiday.
Furthermore, these paid holidays are not transferable, meaning they cannot be moved to another date, unlike regular holidays.
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