Use of legal powers against journalists sparks concerns; Strikes and mass mobilisations signal growing pressure on public services and workers' rights

This update covers developments relating to the freedoms of expression, association and assembly in Uruguay from July to December 2025.

Context

Proposed law on collective dismissals aims to strengthen consultation and worker protections

On 30th November 2025, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Juan Castillo, announced plans to submit a draft law to Parliament requiring companies to provide advance notification of collective dismissals or business closures. Castillo stated that the proposal aims to ensure prior consultation between employers, government authorities and trade unions, allowing time to explore alternatives and mitigate social and economic impacts.

The initiative follows recent cases in which companies reportedly announced mass layoffs or closures without prior notice, including through social media, which limited the state’s ability to intervene. Authorities indicated that the absence of advance communication restricts opportunities to mediate, support affected workers or identify solutions, such as new investors or redeployment measures.

Deputy Minister Hugo Barreto noted that Uruguay’s current legal framework permits “free dismissal”, allowing employers to terminate employment without justification or prior notice. He stated that this framework may raise concerns about transparency and potential discriminatory motives, particularly in cases of large-scale layoffs.

According to media reports, the proposed legislation draws on international labour standards, including conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO), particularly Convention No. 158, which requires prior notification to authorities and worker representatives in cases of collective termination.

The proposal has generated debate among stakeholders. Trade unions, including PIT-CNT, have supported the initiative as a mechanism to strengthen dialogue and protect workers’ rights. In contrast, business associations have expressed concern that additional regulatory requirements may affect investment conditions and create uncertainty for companies.

Expression

Government request to newspaper over sources

On 29th September 2025, the Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC) sent a formal request to the newspaper El País, a leading national daily in Uruguay, seeking information on how it obtained material for a report concerning an administrative investigation into alleged workplace harassment involving a senior official of Sodre (the state cultural institution).

Mariano Passagio, head of the MEC’s Department of Investigations and Administrative Proceedings, issued the request and asked the outlet to clarify “how and under what circumstances” it accessed the information, including whether sources had requested publication and when the newspaper became aware of the case. Authorities stated that the administration has a legal obligation to determine how reserved information was disclosed. However, El País did not respond to the request, citing concerns about the protection of journalistic sources.

The measure prompted criticism from political actors and civil society organisations. For example, the Centre for Archive and Access to Public Information (Centro de Archivo y Acceso a la Información Pública, Cainfo) criticised the formal request, describing it as inappropriate and warning that it could interfere with the legitimate exercise of journalism. The organisation recalled that Uruguay’s press law guarantees journalists the right to protect the confidentiality of their sources and emphasised that such protections are essential to ensure access to information of public interest (Law No. 16.099).

Press freedom under scrutiny after journalist questioned under criminal procedure

On 29th December 2025, police summoned journalist Sebastián Cabrera of the newspaper El País to give a statement following a defamation complaint linked to a report on alleged irregularities involving a civil society organisation in Punta Colorada, Uruguay.

According to media reports, police officers visited the newspaper’s newsroom in Montevideo twice and left a formal summons requiring him to appear under Article 61 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. This provision allows police to carry out certain investigative actions without prior authorisation from a prosecutor. Cabrera gave a statement at a police station, accompanied by legal counsel. He clarified that the article reported allegations made by third parties rather than his own claims.

The case stemmed from Cabrera publishing the article on 10th December 2025, drawing on testimonies and complaints from residents about a matter of public interest. Civil society organisations and legal experts criticised the measure. Cainfo argued that the summons conflicts with international standards on freedom of expression. The organisation warned that authorities should use coercive measures against journalists only in exceptional circumstances because of their chilling effect on investigative reporting.

Legal experts also questioned the use of Article 61 in this case. They noted that the provision allows police to act without immediate prosecutorial oversight and warned that its use may affect due process and interfere with press freedom. A member of parliament requested information from the Ministry of the Interior on the legal basis and operational criteria behind the police action.

Senate receives proposal to advance democratic governance of digital platforms

In October 2025, the Senate received a proposal outlining guiding principles for the democratic governance of large digital platforms within the framework of UNESCO-led Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms. The initiative seeks to inform future regulatory approaches that balance freedom of expression, access to information and accountability in digital environments. The proposal sets out principles to guide legislative and policy discussions on the role and responsibilities of major technology platforms.

Peaceful Assembly

Health workers stage nationwide strike over wages and safety concerns

On 18th November 2025, the Federation of Public Health Officials (Federación de Funcionarios de la Salud Pública, FFSP), a national public health workers’ union, held a 24-hour nationwide strike, accompanied by a march in Montevideo, to demand increased budget allocations, improved working conditions and an end to outsourcing in the public health system. Workers gathered at the Montevideo Intendencia (municipal government headquarters) and marched to the Ministry of Economy before holding a rally outside the Presidential offices at Plaza Independencia, highlighting the national scope of the mobilisation.

FFSP president Martín Pereira stated that the current health budget does not meet staffing needs or service demand. The union called for higher wages, increased staffing levels, improved occupational protections and earlier retirement provisions for healthcare workers. Protesters also highlighted disparities within the health system, pointing to significant income gaps between senior officials and frontline workers, raising concerns about equity in public service provision.

The mobilisation also drew attention to rising violence against healthcare workers. Union representatives reported over 40 incidents of aggression against medical and non-medical staff in 2025, including physical assaults and threats, and called for stronger protection measures within healthcare facilities.

Teachers strike over funding and rising violence in schools

On 10th November 2025, teachers in Montevideo held a 24-hour strike and marched to the Presidential offices at Torre Ejecutiva, demanding increased funding for public education and improved safety conditions in schools. The Association of Secondary School Teachers (Asociación de Docentes de Educación Secundaria, ADES), a secondary teachers’ union, led the action and coordinated with the Uruguayan Teachers' Association (Asociación de Maestros del Uruguay, Ademu), which represents primary school teachers, affecting both secondary and primary public education in the capital.

Teachers gathered in Plaza Independencia before marching to the executive headquarters, where they sought to deliver a joint statement to authorities. The protest followed a series of violent incidents in educational settings, including an attack at School No. 123 in Flor de Maroñas, where unknown people reportedly entered the premises and assaulted students, teachers and family members, raising concerns about school safety and security.

Unions stated that the strike aimed to highlight what they described as a critical situation in public education, characterised by insufficient resources, deteriorating infrastructure and inadequate safety measures. They called for increased budget allocations, improved working conditions and strengthened protocols to prevent and respond to violence in schools.

The mobilisation forms part of ongoing demands by education unions for increased public investment, including a longstanding proposal to allocate 6 per cent of GDP to education and an additional 1 per cent to science and technology.

In a separate case, on 19th November 2025, the Private Education Workers’ Union (Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Educación Privada, SINTEP) held a 24-hour nationwide strike and convened an extraordinary general assembly in Montevideo, during the final stage of the 11th Round of Wage Council, the country’s tripartite collective bargaining mechanism involving workers, employers and the state. The mobilisation marked the culmination of a five-month negotiation process.

Trade union confederation leads strike over wages and budget concerns

On 29th October 2025, Uruguay’s main trade union confederation, PIT-CNT, held a partial general strike and mass rally in Montevideo, under the slogan: “For work, wages and budget. It is time to deliver.” The stoppage ran from 9:00 to 13:00, with unions able to extend it to 24 hours, allowing flexibility in participation across sectors. Hundreds of protesters gathered at the University of the Republic, the country’s main public university, and marched along Avenida Fernández Crespo, where union leaders delivered speeches despite adverse weather conditions.

During the rally, PIT-CNT leaders criticised government wage guidelines and the proposed national budget, arguing that they do not guarantee real wage growth or adequate social investment. Union representatives also expressed solidarity with workers involved in labour disputes across multiple sectors, including retail, food delivery, dairy production and electoral administration. They denounced reported anti-union practices, delays in wage council negotiations and intimidation against workers participating in collective action, highlighting ongoing tensions in labour relations. The mobilisation also drew attention to underfunding in care work, education and measures addressing gender-based violence, linking labour demands to broader social policy concerns.

PIT-CNT has historically played a central role in Uruguay’s labour movement. The October 2025 strike took place amid wider debates over the 2025-2030 national budget, wage council guidelines and the distribution of economic growth, reflecting broader socio-economic tensions.

25 November protest highlights gaps in response to violence against women

On 25th November 2025, dozens of feminist organisations, including Mujeres de Negro, peacefully marched in Montevideo to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Under the slogan “Against all forms of violence: struggle and resistance”, participants gathered at Plaza Independencia and marched towards the Intendencia, calling for stronger state action to address gender-based violence.

Protesters denounced multiple and intersecting forms of violence affecting women, including physical, psychological, domestic, structural and vicarious violence, where harm is inflicted through children. They called for adequate budget allocations, effective public policies and strengthened institutional responses to prevent violence, support survivors and ensure accountability. Protesters also highlighted persistent gaps between existing legal frameworks and their implementation, warning that protection measures are often insufficient or delayed.

According to data from the Dirección Nacional de Políticas de Género of the Ministry of the Interior, between January and October 2025, a woman was killed or survived an attempted femicide every 11 days. During the same period, authorities recorded 35,443 complaints of domestic violence and related offences, an average of 117 per day. In 61 per cent of cases, the alleged aggressor was a current or former partner.

Data also indicates 2,578 complaints of sexual violence, with 81 per cent of victims being women, including a significant proportion of adolescents and girls. Between January and October, 33 women were killed, with 58 per cent of cases directly linked to domestic or gender-based violence.

Thousands mobilise against offshore seismic exploration projects

On 16th December 2025, thousands of protesters mobilised across Uruguay against offshore seismic exploration projects and delivered more than 21,000 signatures to the Ministry of Environment, demanding a halt to the activities. Environmental organisations, including Socobioma and the Asamblea por un Mar Libre de Petroleras, led the demonstrations, which marked the peak of growing public opposition to hydrocarbon exploration in Uruguay’s Atlantic waters.

Environmental organisations warned that seismic exploration, a technique used to map subsea resources through acoustic waves, poses significant risks to marine ecosystems and called for the immediate suspension of authorised projects. On 5th December 2025, the Ministry of Environment granted prior environmental authorisations for four offshore 3D seismic exploration projects involving companies including Searcher Geodata, CGG Services, APA Exploration and PGS. According to media reports, the projects are scheduled to operate in environmentally sensitive areas, raising concerns about potential ecological impacts.

Prior to the approvals, environmental organisations presented their concerns before the Environment Commission of the Maldonado Departmental Board, reiterating their opposition and warning of potential ecological harm. They also criticised public consultation processes as insufficient and not reflective of community views, raising concerns about participation and transparency in decision-making.

In response, civil society organisations initiated legal proceedings seeking precautionary measures to suspend all exploration-related activities, including vessel deployment and potential drilling, pending judicial review of the contracts. The claim challenges agreements signed by ANCAP, the state-owned energy company, with international firms, arguing that the activities may violate national protections designating Uruguay’s exclusive economic zone as a sanctuary for whales and dolphins.

Association

Government opens multi-stakeholder dialogue on national security plan

On 28th July 2025, the government of Uruguay, led by President Yamandú Orsi, launched the “Encuentros por Seguridad” process as part of the development of the National Public Security Plan 2025-2035, a long-term policy framework to address crime and public safety. Interior Minister Carlos Negro presented the initiative, which aims to establish a state-wide security policy through a participatory and multi-stakeholder approach.

Authorities described the process as a structured platform for dialogue that brings together political parties, public institutions, academia, civil society organisations, trade unions and private sector actors, signalling an effort to broaden participation in policy design. The plan seeks to address structural challenges, including homicide, gender-based violence, arms control, organised crime, cybercrime and reform of the criminal justice and prison systems.

Authorities are developing the plan through a multi-phase process that combines technical analysis and public consultation, with implementation scheduled to begin in March 2026. Officials emphasised that the initiative aims to balance immediate responses to security concerns with long-term institutional reform and policy continuity.

By December 2025, authorities reported receiving 92 proposals through the consultation process and identified areas of emerging consensus, including the need to strengthen responses to cybercrime, improve coordination with private security actors and integrate community-based knowledge into public policy design.

The initiative reflects an effort to incorporate participatory mechanisms into public policy design, which may strengthen civic engagement and dialogue between the state and society. However, the impact of the process will depend on whether participation translates into meaningful influence over policy outcomes and implementation, particularly in areas affecting fundamental freedoms.