Wage Councils in Uruguay: the minimum wage for your job category

In Uruguay there isn't a single minimum wage. On top of the National Minimum Wage, there are minimums by sector and by job category, and they're set by the Consejos de Salarios (Wage Councils). If you're hiring, being hired, or just want to know what your role should pay, this is the mechanism behind it. Here's the plain-language version: what they are, who they cover, how the groups work, and where to look up the figure that applies to you.

What are the Consejos de Salarios?

They are tripartite bodies: the State (through the Ministry of Labour, MTSS), employers, and workers (represented by their unions) sit at the same table. There they negotiate and set the minimum wages and working conditions for each activity. They were created by Law 10.449, of 1943, which defines them like this:

Law 10.449, article 5 (original text) — IMPO:

«Créanse los Consejos de Salarios que tendrán por cometido fijar el monto mínimo de los salarios que deben percibir los trabajadores, empleados u obreros del comercio, la industria, oficinas y escritorios de propiedad privada y los servicios públicos no atendidos por el Estado.»

In English: The Wage Councils are hereby created, whose purpose shall be to set the minimum amount of the wages that workers, employees or labourers in commerce, industry, privately owned offices and bureaus, and public services not run by the State must receive.

Who do they cover?

They cover dependent private-sector workers — that is, people who work under an employment relationship for a company or another private employer. They don't set the pay of public servants (who have their own regime). Nor do they set 'your' earnings if you're a sole trader (unipersonal) or self-employed: the minimums are for employees, not for the owner of the business. But they do matter to you the moment you have employees on your payroll.

Groups and subgroups: how it's all organised

The economy is split into activity groups (commerce, construction, industry, food service, transport, services, etc.), and each group is subdivided into subgroups and job categories based on the type of work. Each group has its own Wage Council. That's why the minimum for a retail cashier isn't the same as for a construction labourer or a cook: each category, within its group and subgroup, has its own wage floor. The MTSS publishes and maintains the list of groups and subgroups.

The minimums are mandatory

What the Wage Council sets for each category is not a suggestion: it's a legal minimum. Once the agreement is registered and published, it applies to the whole activity, and no employer in that group may pay below the minimum for the relevant category. You can pay more, never less. Beyond the minimums, agreements often also include dated raises, seniority or attendance bonuses, and other conditions.

How to find your category's minimum

The key step is to pin down three things: the company's activity group, the subgroup, and the job category. With those, you go to the wage tables published by the MTSS and look up the current amount for that category. Since the figures are updated by agreement (each with an effective date), always check the most recent official table rather than relying on an old value. We don't publish figures here precisely because they change: the up-to-date source is the MTSS.

Why does it matter to you?

If you're an employer, paying below the category minimum is a breach that can lead to claims, MTSS fines, and back-pay owed. If you're a worker, it's your right: it lets you check that you're being paid at least what your category calls for. Either way, knowing which group, subgroup and category you fall into is what lets you read the correct table.

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Frequently asked questions

• Does the Wage Council set my earnings if I'm a sole trader? No: the minimums are for dependent workers, not for the owner of the business.
• Is it the same as the National Minimum Wage? No: the national one is a general floor; the Councils set minimums by sector and category, which are usually higher.
• Can I pay below the category minimum? No: it's a mandatory legal minimum; you can pay more, never less.
• Who takes part in the bargaining? The State (MTSS), employers, and workers (unions): it's tripartite.
• Where do I see the exact figure for my category? In the wage tables published by the MTSS, by your group, subgroup and category.
• How often do the amounts change? They're updated by agreement, with effective dates; always check the current MTSS table.

In short: the Consejos de Salarios are the tripartite table that sets, by sector and by category, the mandatory minimum wage for the private sector. What you need to do is identify your group, subgroup and category, and look up the current amount in the MTSS tables. When in doubt, check the official MTSS source or your accountant.