First law: 1934.

Current laws: 1981 (Law No. 15180 of 20 August, on industry and commerce) with amendments in 2008 (Law No. 18399); 2001 (Decree No. 211 of 8 June, on rural workers); 2002 (term contracts); and 2006 (household workers).

Type of program: Social assistance system.

Private-sector employees in industry and commerce, rural workers, and household workers.

Exclusions: Self-employed persons.

Insured person: None.

Self-employed person: Not applicable.

Employer: None.

Government: The total cost.

Unemployment benefits: The insured must have at least six months of work in the 12-month period before unemployment; workers who are paid at irregular intervals must have at least five months of work and have earned at least 13,356 pesos in the 12-month period before unemployment began.

Rural workers who are paid monthly must have at least 12 months of work in the 24-month period before unemployment; rural workers who are paid at irregular intervals must have at least 250 days of work and have earned at least 26,712 pesos in the 24-month period before unemployment began.

Household workers must be registered; household workers who are paid monthly must have at least six months of work in the 12-month period before unemployment; household workers who are paid at irregular intervals must have at least 12 months in the 24-month period before unemployment began; workers who are paid daily or weekly must have at least 150 days in the 12 months or 250 days in the 24 months of work before unemployment began.

Unemployment must not be the result of dismissal for disciplinary reasons.

Partial unemployment benefit: A benefit is paid to workers who are paid daily or at irregular intervals if working time is reduced by 25% or more.

Dependent's supplement: Paid if the unemployed person is married, has children younger than age 21 (any age if disabled), or has disabled dependents.

There is a 12-month waiting period before a new claim for unemployment benefits can be made.

Unemployment benefit: For full unemployment, workers who are paid monthly or at irregular intervals receive a monthly benefit of 50% of average earnings in the six months before unemployment; a monthly benefit of 12 days of earnings before unemployment for workers who are paid daily.

Partial unemployment benefit: The monthly benefit is 12 days of earnings before partial unemployment, minus the value of current monthly earnings.

Dependent's supplement: 20% of the benefit is paid.

The minimum monthly unemployment benefit is 2,226 pesos.

The maximum monthly unemployment benefit is 24,486 pesos.

Ministry of Labor and Social Security (http://www.mtss.gub.uy) provides general supervision.

Ministry of Labor and Social Security
Juncal 1511,
CP 11000 Montevideo,
Uruguay

Tel.: +(5982) 916 2681
Fax: +(5982) 916 2708

Social Insurance Bank (http://www.bps.gub.uy) supervises and administers the unemployment insurance program.

Social Insurance Bank
Mercedes 1950,
CP 11000 Montevideo,
Uruguay

Tel.: +(5982) 409 13 02
Fax: +(5982) 400 72 83