Government Policy / General Measures
- Declaration of sanitary emergency: Decree 93/020 dated March 13, 2020, of the Executive Branch declared the status of sanitary emergency for the entire country and ordered: (a) the suspension of all public gathering events; (b) the closure of thermal resorts; (c) the exhortation to the population to call off all private events of similar characteristics; (d) the mandatory quarantine for at least 14 days for individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 or display symptoms as well as to people who enter Uruguay from countries declared as “high-risk areas;”[1] and (e) the suspension of flights coming from “high-risk areas”. The Decree included flights from Spain, Italy, France, Germany, China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Iran.
- Closure of terrestrial borders and suspension of flights from Europe and Argentina: (a) Decree 94/020 dated March 16, 2020, of the Executive Branch extended the suspension of flights from Europe and Argentina; (b) Decree 94/020also closed terrestrial, maritime and fluvial borders with Argentina and; (c) declared the prohibition of disembarking from cruises and other commercial vessels coming from “high-risk areas”[2]; (d) on March 23, 2020, the government closed the borders with Brazil (only Uruguayan nationals and residents and those living in bordering cities of both countries can cross the borders).
- Prohibition to foreigners not residing in Uruguay to enter the country (Decree 102/020 dated March 24, 2020 of the Executive Branch). This restriction does not apply to: (a) foreign individuals who are Uruguayan residents; (b) aircraft or vessel crews; (c) drivers transporting goods; (d) diplomats; (e) foreigners descending from cruises in the Port of Montevideo under regulated sanitary conditions; (f) Brazilian frontiersmen crossing Uruguay’s terrestrial borders with Brazil; (g) individuals requesting refuge and admitted as refugees; y (h) citizens of Member States of MERCOSUR in transit in the Airports of Carrasco and Laguna del Sauce. Everyone entering the country shall comply with the mandatory quarantine. The decree also prohibits the entrance of commercial or private flights if they are not transporting Uruguayan citizens who were stranded in other countries.
- Restrictions to the use of Uruguay’s airspace: The National Civil Aviation and Aeronautical Infrastructure Agency (“DINACIA”) enacted Resolution 105/020 on March 25, 2020 to restrict circulation through Uruguay’s aerospace to airplanes coming from abroad, except for those transporting Uruguayan nationals or foreigners forming part of the exceptions provided by Decree 104/020 of the Executive Branch.
- Repatriation of Uruguayan nationals: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on March 22 that it engaged in negotiations with other countries to repatriate Uruguayan nationals.[3]
- Suspension of tourist travel abroad regardless of the destination (Decree dated March 24, 2020).
- Exhortation to the population to remain in their homes despite a curfew not having been decided (press release dated March 23, 2020).
- Quarantine for individuals aged 65 and older (announced on March 24, 2020). The Decree is not yet available.
- Closure of shopping malls: Resolution S/N dated March 17, 2020, of the Executive Branch declared the closure of stores in shopping centers, except for supermarkets and pharmacies.
- Special hours for customers over 65 years old in supermarkets: The Government announced on March 24, 2020, that it reached an agreement with the Uruguay Supermarkets Association establishing special hours for supermarkets for the exclusive use of people over 65 years old (between 8:30 and 10:00 am). During the rest of the hours, the supermarkets are open for people under 65 years old.
- Implementation of: (a) an app for mobile phones with information about COVID-19, symptoms and precautions: (announced on March 20, 2020); (b) a WhatsApp chatbot to answer questions about COVID-19 and report symptoms (announced on March 21, 2020); (c) a hotline for online consultations for COVID-19 symptoms (announced on March 14, 2020).
Labor
- Flexible conditions for temporary redundancy payments: Resolution 143/020 dated March 18, 2020, of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security set flexible conditions for employers to adopt temporary redundancy measures, applicable to employees paid on a monthly basis, in all industries.[1] This enables employers to: (a) temporarily reduce workers’ work in a minimum of 6 days a month; or (b) reduce their working hours in 50% or more, reducing salaries accordingly. Workers will receive a compensation from the Government for up to 25% of the average between the last 6 monthly wages. These measures apply to all employees, regardless of how long they have been with the company, provided certain minimum requirements are met (the most relevant is having been employed for at least six months in the prior year). Independent professionals do not qualify. The special regime will be in force for 30 days, and the Executive Branch can decide to extend it to a longer term if the sanitary situation remains the same when the term lapses.
- Mandatory yearly vacations: Resolution 55/020 dated March 20, 2020, of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security provided to exceptionally authorize employers to anticipate their employees’ yearly vacations so that the employees can take them this year instead than in 2021. This measure applies to employees under a labor contract and requires a written agreement which shall expressly make record that the measure is taken due to the sanitary emergency situation.
- Sick leave for workers in quarantine: The Ministry of Labor and Social Security announced on March 16, 2020, that the workers in mandatory quarantine will be eligible for a sick leave subsidy.[2]
- Health and hygiene protocol for companies: Resolution 54/020 dated March 19, 2020, of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security provided that companies must develop and implement COVID-19 prevention protocols working in coordination with two bodies within the Ministry of Labor (the Bipartite Commission on Work Safety and the Safety, Health and Prevention Division), addressing the following minimum aspects: (a) mechanisms and proceedings to report disease’s symptoms among workers; (b) the duty to adopt prevention measures for employees, such as: (i) the supply of alcohol and gloves to workers in contact with the public; (ii) the supply of face masks to employees in contact with individuals showing COVID-19 symptoms; (iii) the duty to adopt stricter hygiene standards in working facilities and equipment (including the need to clean desks, tables, latches, railings, telephones and keyboards frequently); and (c) the duty to monitor employees returning from “high-risk areas”[3] and to impose mandatory quarantines for such workers.[4] Companies must implement immediate measures to be followed in the case of infection with regards to workers who were in contact with the infected individual in the 14 days preceding the appearance of COVID-19 symptoms.
- Free Trade Zone regulations: Resolution dated March 16, 2020, by the Free Trade Zone Authority rendered an exceptional authorization to companies operating under FTZ regimes to implement home office On March 25, 2020, the Free Trade Zone Authority extended the term of this authoritization until April 10, 2020.
- Labor Agreement for the Construction Industry: the four chambers in the construction industry entered into a labor agreement with the Construction Union (“SUNCA”), providing for an extraordinary unpaid leave between March 25 and April 4. A one-time payment of UYU 16,505 (approximately USD 400) will be made to workers. For those based in construction sites, the payment will be made by the Social Security Administration, while the rest will receive it from the construction company they work for. Work conducted from outside of construction sites may continue and exceptional repairs can also be conducted. Not yet formally approved by the Government but binding on companies.
- Sick leave for workers over 65 under quarantine: The Executive Branch enacted a decree on March 25, 2020 that people over 65 years old, eligible for the regime of sick leave subsidies, will be able to stay in isolation in their homes for 30 days, and in that case will have access to the sick leave subsidy as if they were ill. This decree does not apply to workers who can work from home.
- Companies shall report home office measures to the General Work Inspection within the Ministry of Labor (Decree 94/020 dated March 16, 2020)
- Suspension of classes: Decree of the Executive Branch dated March 16, 2020, ordered that all schools and high schools in the country suspend classes at all levels, including centers for the assistance of families in critical context. Based on Governments’ announcements, the suspension will be in force at least until April 13. Centers for the assistance of families in critical context will continue supplying food on a take-away basis, regardless of the suspension of classes (from March 16 to 29).
- Suspension of classes in the public University (University of the Republic), from March 15 to April 12. Students using the University’s canteen will receive an ATM card to purchase food for 30 days.[1]
Healthcare
03/13/2020 Decree 93/2020 of the Executive Branch (declaration of sanitary emergency).
https://medios.presidencia.gub.uy/legal/2020/decretos/03/cons_min_18.pdf
03/14/2020 Official communication by the Executive Branch (implementation of a hotline for consultations for Covid-19 symptoms).
03/18/2020 Official communication by the Ministry of Public Health (recommendations to retirement houses).
03/19/2020 Ordinance 230/2020 of the Ministry of Public Health (creation of an Expert Committee to advise the Government in dealing with Covid-19).
03/20/2020 Official communication by the Executive Branch (creation of shelters for the homeless qualifying as high-risk population).
https://www.gub.uy/sistema-nacional-emergencias/comunicacion/comunicados/informe-situacion-20032020
03/20/2020 Official communication by the Executive Branch (implementation of an app for mobile phones with information about Covid-19, symptoms and precautions).
https://www.gub.uy/sistema-nacional-emergencias/comunicacion/comunicados/informe-situacion-20032020
03/21/2020 Official communication by the Executive Branch (implementation of a WhatsApp chatbot to answer questions about Covid-19 and report symptoms).
03/21/2020 Official communication by the Executive Branch (arrangements to make the Spanish Hospital the first Covid-19 healthcare center in Uruguay).
03/21/2020 Resolution 1361/2020 of the Montevideo Municipal Authority (hygiene and health conditions for shops).
03/23/2020 Official communication by the Executive Branch (exhortation to the population to remain in their homes despite a curfew not having been decided).
http://presidencia.gub.uy/comunicacion/comunicacionnoticias/medidas-coronavirus-lunes-23
03/24/2020 Official communication by the Executive Branch (quarantine for individuals aged 65 and older and special hours for customers aged 65 and older in supermarkets).
03/25/2020 Resolution 1454/2020 of the Montevideo Municipal Authority (hygiene and health conditions for food markets).
Economy / Finance
03/16/2020 Official communication by the Consumer Protection Agency (price control for certain sanitary products).
03/19/2020 Official communication by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (subsidies and extensions of time to pay social security contributions; flexible credit facilities with the Bank of the Republic of Uruguay; authorization to private banks to extend repayment terms; and increase of budget assignment to guarantee fund administered by the National Agency for Development).
03/20/2020 Resolution 550/2020 of the General Tax Authority (“DGI”) (extensions of time to pay taxes).
https://www.dgi.gub.uy/wdgi/afiledownload?2,4,381,O,S,0,35651%3BS%3B1%3B126,
03/20/2020 Official communication by the Montevideo Municipal Authority (extensions of time to pay municipal taxes).
https://montevideo.gub.uy/noticias/institucional/plan-de-medidas-de-alivio-financiero
03/23/2020 Resolution S/N of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (exemptions of import tariffs and taxes to sanitary products).
https://www.impo.com.uy/bases/resoluciones-mef/SN20200327001-2020
03/26/2020 Official communication by the Executive Branch (creation of “Coronavirus Fund”).
http://presidencia.gub.uy/comunicacion/comunicacionnoticias/fondo-coronavirus-conferencia
Courts – Judicial System and related offices
Prisons
- Suspension of procedural terms and court activity: Resolutions 12/020 dated March 16, 2020, and 16/020 dated March 19, 2020, of the Supreme Court of Justice provided that all proceedings in civil matters are suspended (except for urgent matters, such as constitutional injunctive proceedings and criminal and domestic violence proceedings) and courts closed to public between March 14 to April 3, 2020.All pending proceedings are stayed, although the terms for the lapsing of the statute of limitation in certain matters, including the filing of claims against public entities, continue to accrue.
- Suspension of procedural terms in the Administrative Litigation Tribunal (“TCA”): Resolution 4/020 dated March 16, 2020, of the TCA suspended all terms in pending proceedings before it (i.e. claims for annulment of administrative acts) from March 16 to April 2, 2020. This does not affect: (a) the terms to file the preceding and mandatory requests to the different public bodies to cancel or modify the challenged act; (b) the 60-day mandatory term to file an application for annulment before the TCA. The TCA remains open to the public from 2 pm to 3 pm only.
- Restrictions in working hours, accepted filings, and proceedings available before public registries to urgent matters.
- Restrictions in notarial services rendered by the Supreme Court of Justice: until April 3, 2020, services are limited to 3 hours a day (between 9:00 am and 12:00 am). In addition, certain services are restricted, including: (a) the Registry of Wills will only receive a single application per person per day and 30 in total (b) a single legalization application per person and only 30 per day will be processed; (c) notaries will not address technical consultations or receive corrected notarial documents.
- Suspension of legalization and apostille of foreign public documents before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: applicable both to apostille of documents and legalization of documents not covered by the Apostille Convention, since March 16 and until the emergency situation finishes.
- Prevention measures adopted in prisons: on March 16, 2020, the Ministry of the Interior approved a prevention protocol for prisons, including stricter controls to visitors (including temperature tests and hygiene procedures before entering the facilities); restriction of visitors to one adult per inmate; hygiene controls in cells and for inmates and prison personnel; and restrictions to indoors social activities (such as classes and religious activities).
Other measures
03/14/2020 Official communication by the Ministry of Education and Culture (restrictions in working hours, accepted filings, and proceedings available before public registries to urgent matters).
03/15/2020 Resolution S/N of the Dean of the University of the Republic (suspension of classes at the university from March 15 to April 12, 2020).
http://udelar.edu.uy/portal/2020/03/udelar-amplia-suspension-de-actividades-por-covid-19/
03/15/2020 Official communication by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (suspension of legalization and apostille of foreign public documents before the Ministry).
03/16/2020 Decree 94/2020 of the Executive Branch (closure of terrestrial borders and suspension of flights with Argentina and Europe; sick leave for workers in quarantine; and authorization of companies to implement home office work provided they inform the General Inspection of Labor).
http://medios.presidencia.gub.uy/legal/2020/decretos/03/cons_min_19.pdf
03/16/2020 Resolution S/N of the Free Trade Zone Authority (exceptional authorization for companies operating in Free Trade Zones to implement home office work).
03/16/2020 - 03/19/2020 Resolutions 12/2020 and 16/2020 of the Supreme Court of Justice (suspension of procedural terms and court activity within the Judicial Branch).
http://www.poderjudicial.gub.uy/novedades/noticias-institucionales/download/8069/6435/19.html
03/16/2020 Resolution 8/2020 of the Administrative Litigation Tribunal (“TCA”) (suspension of procedural terms and court activity
http://tca.gub.uy/leyes/Acordada08-20.pdf
03/16/2020 Decree 101/2020 of the Executive Branch (suspension of classes in public and private education and in centers for the assistance of families in critical context).
https://medios.presidencia.gub.uy/legal/2020/decretos/03/mec_17.pdf
03/16/2020 Official communication by the Executive Branch (supply of food on a take-away basis for users of centers for the assistance of families in critical context).
03/16/2020 Official communication by the Ministry of the Interior (prevention measures adopted in prisons).
03/17/2020 Resolution 337/2020 of the Executive Branch (closure of shopping malls).
https://medios.presidencia.gub.uy/legal/2020/resoluciones/03/msp_11.pdf
03/18/2020 - 03/20/2020Resolutions 143/2020 and 163/2020 of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (flexible conditions for temporary redundancy payments).
03/19/2020 Resolution 54/2020 of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (conditions for the adoption of health and hygiene protocols for companies).
03/20/2020 Resolution 55/2020 of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (anticipation of 2021 mandatory yearly vacations).
03/20/2020 Labor agreement for the construction industry (extraordinary unpaid leave during March and April and payment of UYU 16,505 to workers).
03/22/2020 Official communication by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (repatriation of Uruguayan nationals).
03/23/2020 Official communication by the General Inspection of Notarial Registries of the Supreme Court of Justice (restrictions in notarial services rendered by the Supreme Court of Justice).
03/23/2020 Decree 103/2020 of the Executive Branch (closure of borders with Brazil).
https://medios.presidencia.gub.uy/legal/2020/decretos/03/mrree_6.pdf
03/24/2020 Decree 102/2020 of the Executive Branch (prohibition of foreigners not residing in Uruguay to enter the country).
https://medios.presidencia.gub.uy/legal/2020/decretos/03/min_41.pdf
03/24/2020 Decree 105/2020 of the Executive Branch (suspension of tourist travels abroad regardless of the destination).
https://medios.presidencia.gub.uy/legal/2020/decretos/03/msp_22.pdf
03/25/2020 Resolution 105/2020 of the National Civil Aviation and Aeronautical Agency (“DINACIA”) (restrictions to the use of Uruguay’s airspace).
03/25/2020 Decree 109/2020 of the Executive Branch (sick leave for workers aged 65 or older under quarantine).
https://medios.presidencia.gub.uy/legal/2020/decretos/03/mtss_16.pdf
03/31/2020 Decree 112/2020 of the Executive Branch (temporal closure of touristic centers during Easter Holidays).
https://medios.presidencia.gub.uy/legal/2020/decretos/03/cons_min_68.pdf
04/01/2020 Official communication by the Ministries of the Interior and National Defense (patrol in national roads to discourage individuals travelling for tourism during Easter Holidays).
04/01/2020 Official communication by the University of the Republic (suspension of classes at the university until further notice; implementation of online classes and online evaluation tests for the semester).
https://coronavirus.udelar.edu.uy/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/comunicado-10-covid-191001042020.pdf