Concerns over anti-union allegations; Suspension of Media Decree signals positive development

Uruguay sworn in new President

In a decisive second-round runoff held on 24th November 2024, Yamandú Orsi of the Broad Front (Frente Amplio) was elected President of Uruguay, defeating Álvaro Delgado of the ruling conservative Republic Coalition. Orsi’s victory marks the return of the centre-left coalition to power after a five-year interlude under President Luis Lacalle Pou.

The outcome follows a first round on 27th October 2024 that failed to produce a clear majority winner, triggering the runoff as prescribed by Uruguayan law. Voter turnout was notably high—reaching almost 90 per cent across both rounds. Alongside the presidential ballot, Uruguayans voted in two constitutional referendums—one on reforming the social security system, and another seeking to authorise night-time police raids on private residences, addressing growing concerns over organised crime and public safety.

As explained by Alicia Lissidini, professor and researcher at the School of Politics and Government of the National University of San Martín in Argentina, both measures were rejected, consistent with the electorate’s historical aversion to authoritarian policing practices rooted in the country’s memory of the 1973–1984 civic-military dictatorship.

In a regional context marked by democratic backsliding and political polarisation, Uruguay remains an outlier. In 2024, the country was ranked 15th globally and 1st in Latin America for a full democracy regime, with a score of 8.67 in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index. Furthermore, it’s the highest in Latin America for public trust in electoral institutions—60 per cent according to Latinobarómetro—compared to 30 per cent in Argentina and just 18 per cent in Bolivia.

On 1st March 2025, Orsi was sworn in as the new President of Uruguay until 2030.

Association

Union leaders dismissed

On 28th November 2024, the Coleme dairy cooperative in Melo reportedly dismissed nine employees, all of whom were active members of the Union of Workers and Employees of Coleme (UOEC). Four of the dismissed workers held leadership positions within the union. According to UOEC President Pablo Jorge, the dismissals constitute retaliatory action and reflect an attempt to undermine organised labour within the enterprise.

The dismissals have reportedly affected Coleme’s operational capacity. According to Jorge, the reduction in staff from approximately 50 to fewer than 40 workers has led to a notable decline in both the quality and quantity of dairy products. The plant currently processes around 3,000 litres of milk daily—significantly below the seasonal norm of 5,000 to 6,000 litres. There have also been reports of product spoilage, including mould affecting cheese production, and Coleme has been unable to fully supply local shops with fluid milk.

On 3rd February 2025, workers set up a protest encampment outside the Coleme facility. Shortly afterwards, the cooperative allegedly suspended eight more employees, placing them on unemployment insurance. The President of the Federation of Dairy Industry Workers (FTIL), Enrique Méndez, criticised the suspensions as unilateral and indicative of ongoing anti-union practices. He also highlighted the socioeconomic consequences, noting that some affected workers now survive on approximately 10,000 pesos (~ USD 230) per month and rely on community food initiatives to meet basic needs.

Peaceful Assembly

Workers’ partial strike highlights labour rights concerns and anti-union allegations

On 20th February 2025, thousands of workers joined a national partial strike convened by the national trade union centre Plenario Intersindical de Trabajadores – Convención Nacional de Trabajadores (PIT-CNT), to protest alleged anti-union discrimination and to demand the protection of labour rights, adequate wages and job security. The mobilisation, held in central Montevideo, marked one of the first large-scale demonstrations by organised labour following the election of President-elect Yamandú Orsi.

“This strike expresses solidarity with unions facing labour disputes and affirms our commitment to defending employment, wages, and trade union rights, while opposing repression and rising inequality,” said Enrique Méndez, Organising Secretary of the PIT-CNT. The demonstration featured banners, percussion groups and public statements calling for renewed social dialogue and stronger state guarantees for the right to organise.

The Confederation of Industrial Trade Unions (Confederación de Sindicatos Industriales, CSI) and the Federation of Dairy Industry Workers (Federación de Trabajadores de la Industria Láctea, FTIL) have played a prominent role in recent mobilisation efforts. These included establishing a protest encampment outside the Torre Ejecutiva, the official seat of the presidency, to denounce mass dismissals in the industrial sector and what union representatives describe as systematic anti-union practices.

According to trade union sources, approximately 4,000 workers have been dismissed in recent months. Union leaders asserted that a significant portion of these dismissals have targeted workers engaged in union activity or collective bargaining processes. Reports also included allegations of workplace harassment and retaliatory measures against trade union organisers.

The following day, representatives of the incoming administration visited the protest encampment. Union leaders welcomed the visit as a constructive gesture and expressed cautious optimism following the delegation’s commitment to initiate a national dialogue.

Women demand action on gender violence and inequality

On 8th March 2025, hundreds of thousands of people marched through Montevideo in a powerful show of collective action against gender-based violence, inequality and state neglect. The demonstration, led by the Plataforma 8M and supported by nearly 50 organisations, culminated at the University of the Republic. Participants of all ages—many in violet clothing and with painted faces—carried banners and messages demanding justice, equality, and recognition of the structural violence they face. Slogans like “No more abuse” and “We believe you” echoed through the streets, reflecting both individual pain and collective resistance.

The protest denounced the erosion of public policies supporting women, particularly in relation to housing subsidies and support services for survivors of violence. Activists criticised the expansion of surrogacy legislation, the government’s social reform agenda, and the impact of multinational extractive projects. Calls were made for the proper funding of gender-based violence legislation and the establishment of integrated courts. Protesters also highlighted the country’s ongoing femicide cases and the lack of a coherent state strategy to address it.

Expression

Media Decree suspended amid legal concerns

On 13th February 2025, then-President Luis Lacalle Pou signed a regulatory decree (Decree 31/025) implementing the Audiovisual Content Broadcasting Services Law (“Media Law”), which had been enacted in October 2024. The decree, issued during the final weeks of his administration, generated significant concern among civil society actors and media stakeholders, particularly with respect to its timing, scope and substantive content.

The 57-article decree introduced new procedures concerning broadcasting licences, including provisions on the transfer of ownership. However, legal experts and media professionals raised concerns regarding the transparency of the drafting process and the decree’s potential to exceed the scope of the enabling legislation. Notably, several provisions appeared to conflict with existing safeguards for media pluralism and freedom of expression.

Article 13 of the decree omitted any reference to the regulation of media concentration by economic groups, despite the explicit safeguards contained in Article 16 of the Media Law. This omission has been characterised as significant, particularly given the risk of undue media consolidation and its implications for democratic discourse.

On 1st April 2025, shortly after assuming office, President Yamandú Orsi issued a decree suspending the implementation of the Media Decree. The Executive cited constitutional and legal concerns, noting that the decree contained provisions that may not conform with the domestic legal order.

According to the Uruguayan Press Association (APU), the suspension was based on a legal analysis provided by the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM). The Ministry’s report identified numerous legal deficiencies, including that Article 18 permitted the regularisation of unauthorised transfers within 30 days of the decree’s entry into force. According to the MIEM, such transfers are null and void under both Law No. 19.307 and Law No. 20.383. Neither law permits the retroactive regularisation of unauthorised transactions.

In addition, Article 31 excluded subscription television services from the obligation to retain nationally produced content for 30 days. This duty was incorrectly limited to free-to-air television, despite the law requiring all cable service providers—whether free-to-air or subscription-based—to comply with content retention provisions.