The working day in Uruguay: hours, weekly rest and intermediate rest

One of the most common questions when you start working (or when you hire someone) is simple: how many hours can you work? In Uruguay the law sets clear caps on the working day, and it also guarantees rest: a weekly one and an intermediate one within the day. Here's the plain-language version, with official quotes from the Ministry of Labour (MTSS).

How many hours can you work?

The general rule has two caps: a daily one and a weekly one. Per day you can't work more than 8 hours. Per week the maximum depends on the sector: 48 hours in industry and 44 in commerce. This is how the MTSS sums it up:

Ministry of Labour and Social Security — Working hours:

«no se puede trabajar más de 8 horas diarias, ni 44 o 48 horas semanales, según se trabaje en el comercio o en la industria.»

In English: you cannot work more than 8 hours a day, nor 44 or 48 hours a week, depending on whether you work in commerce or in industry.

Industry and commerce: why 48 and why 44

The difference comes from two historic laws that are still in force. The 8-hour day and 48-hour week for industry comes from Law 5.350, of 1915 — Uruguay was one of the first countries in the world to establish the eight-hour day. For commerce, Law 7.318 set the cap at 44 hours a week. So, with the same 8-hour daily shift, a commerce employee usually works one afternoon or morning less per week than an industrial one. If your activity doesn't clearly fit one or the other, or a collective agreement sets something different, it's worth confirming with the MTSS.

The weekly rest

On top of the hours cap, the law guarantees a weekly rest: a continuous rest period per work cycle. In industry it's generally at least 24 continuous hours after six days of work (usually Sunday). In commerce, the rest is longer:

MTSS — Weekly rest (commerce):

«El descanso será de 36 horas consecutivas después de las 44 horas de trabajo.»

In English: The rest shall be 36 consecutive hours after the 44 hours of work.

In plain terms: in commerce that longer rest (36 hours) usually covers the weekend, while in industry the guaranteed minimum is 24 continuous hours. The fine details (when it's taken, rotations, holidays) can vary by activity and agreement, so when in doubt check with the MTSS.

The intermediate rest (the break within the day)

Within the working day there's also a break to eat or rest: the intermediate rest. In commerce, when the day is continuous, you get half an hour once the first hours of work have passed; if the day is split (with a midday break), the pause is longer. The point is that no one works many hours in a row without stopping. The exact time and form depend on the regime and the agreement for your activity.

What if you work more? Overtime

Anything worked above the legal cap (more than 8 hours in the day, or more than your sector's weekly maximum) is overtime, and it's paid with a surcharge on the value of the ordinary hour. We don't go into the detail here because it has its own calculation logic; the key point is that the working day has a limit, and going past it isn't 'free': it's paid separately.

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Frequently asked questions

• What's the maximum hours per day? 8 hours a day, as a general rule.
• And per week? 48 hours in industry and 44 in commerce.
• Why the difference? They come from different laws: Law 5.350 (industry) and Law 7.318 (commerce).
• How long is the weekly rest? In industry, generally at least 24 continuous hours; in commerce, 36 consecutive hours.
• Am I entitled to a break within the day? Yes, the intermediate rest; the exact time depends on the regime and the agreement.
• What if I work more than the cap? It's overtime and it's paid with a surcharge.
• Are there activities with their own rules? Yes (rural, domestic work, minors, unhealthy tasks, telework); when in doubt, check with the MTSS.

In short: in Uruguay the working day is capped at 8 hours per day, with a weekly maximum of 48 in industry and 44 in commerce, plus a weekly rest and an intermediate break within the day. These are basic rights, both for the worker and for whoever hires. For special cases or agreements in your activity, the official source is the Ministry of Labour (MTSS).