Japanese autopart makers Yazaki announced the closure of its two plants in Uruguay citing rising costs, leaving thousands jobless, it was reported in Montevideo. Some 1,200 workers have been affected by the measure. The plants in Las Piedras and Colonia, which had been operating since 2007, represented 300 and 900 jobs respectively. Yazaki's presence in the region will be shifting to Argentina and Paraguay.
Uruguay's Electoral Court has validated the required signatures therefore the South American country will be holding a plebiscite on social security concurrently with the Oct. 27 presidential elections, it was announced in Montevideo. The authorities said Wednesday that 276,167 signatures had been reached (10% of the citizens registered to vote).
Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou said that reversing the social security reform would imply “a great setback” for his country and pointed out that there seems to be a great rush to carry out this measure.
Uruguay's labor union Pit-Cnt has garnered the number of signatures required by law; therefore, the social security reform will be subject to a referendum on Oct. 27, simultaneously with the election of a new president. The grouping appeared before Parliament on Saturday with 430,023 signatures to support its request.
Uruguay's labor grouping Pit-Cnt Monday objected to the presence in the South American country of General Laura Richardson, head of the US Southern Command, it was reported in Montevideo.
Uruguay's trade union central, the PIT-CNT, carried out this Tuesday a partial four-hour strike with a mobilization, in which it again called for a law to reduce the working day from 48 to 40 hours a week.
Uruguayan workers took to the streets on Tuesday as part of a general strike called by the PIT-CNT labor federation to express their rejection of the government's proposed pension reform, which they see as “socially inefficient” and “against the people.” The Uruguayan Chamber of Representatives approved the legislation on Tuesday evening after a “marathon” session.
Thousands of women will take to the streets of the world Wednesday to denounce a global offensive against their rights and demand an end to discrimination and femicides, on the rise in Latin American countries such as Mexico, Colombia, and Uruguay.
Uruguay's Plenario Intersindical de Trabajadores (PIT-CNT) general labor union has called for a 24-hour general strike Thursday to protest against wage cuts, high costs and social security reform.
Uruguay's labor unions gathered under the PIT-CNT Thursday, announced a general strike with a march towards the Executive Tower and the Legislative Palace between 9 am and 1 pm.