Uruguay (UY)
South America's most progressive and stable country — Uruguay consistently ranks first in Latin America for democracy, press freedom, and quality of life.
Family Rights & Benefits
Maternity, parental leave and child benefits in Uruguay.
Uruguay has some of the most progressive family rights legislation in Latin America. Same-sex marriage has been legal since 2013. Adoption is open to same-sex couples and single individuals. Co-parenting rights for LGBTQ+ families are legally recognised. Maternity leave, paternity leave, and parental leave (Ley 18.987) are paid at full salary rate by BPS. AFAM (Asignaciones Familiares) family allowances are paid to formal sector workers and low-income households. INAU (Instituto del Niño y Adolescente del Uruguay) protects children's rights and oversees adoption and child welfare.
Licencia por Maternidad (Maternity Leave)
Before birth: 6 weeks (42 days) mandatory prenatal leave. Work cannot be performed during prenatal leave from week 34 of pregnancy. BPS pays 100% of reference salary during this period.
After birth: 8 weeks (56 days) mandatory postnatal leave. Cannot be waived by employer or employee. BPS pays 100% of reference salary. For premature births or complications, leave extends by the additional hospitalisation period.
Job protection: Full job protection from the moment pregnancy is confirmed until 6 months after return to work. Dismissal of a pregnant employee is null and void — employer must reinstate or pay double despido. Protection extends to the employed partner using parental leave.
Licencia Parental Compartida (Shared Parental Leave — Ley 18.987)
Max duration: After the mandatory 14-week maternity leave, an additional 6 months of half-time work is available to either parent, paid at full salary by BPS. The non-birthing parent (father/second parent) can take up to the same 6 months in alternating periods. Children adopted under 4 years are also covered.
Split rules / Elterngeld: The additional 6 months of half-time parental leave can be split between both parents in agreed portions. Either parent can take the leave — not simultaneously. Paternity leave (licencia de paternidad): 20 days fully paid (BPS) as of January 2026, following the gradual expansion under recent law extensions (was 13 days in 2022–2025). Applies to all recognised parents including same-sex couples.
Benefits
AFAM — Family Allowances (Asignaciones Familiares)
$U 1,400–3,000 per child per month (2026, varies by family income and child age)
Duration: Until child turns 18 (or 23 if in tertiary education)
Eligibility: All formal sector BPS-registered employees with dependent children. Also extended to informal workers under AFAM Plan Equidad (income-tested). Children must be enrolled in ANEP education and have up-to-date vaccinations.
How to apply: Apply at BPS (bps.gub.uy) with child's birth certificate, school enrollment certificate, and vaccination record. Expat families need apostilled and translated birth certificates.
Paid directly to a designated account (typically the mother's BROU account). BPS verifies annual school enrollment and health check-ups.
Canasta BPS (Food basket supplement)
$U 1,200–2,000/month additional food voucher for very low-income families
Duration: While income thresholds met
Eligibility: AFAM-PE (Plan Equidad) households in extreme vulnerability. BPS social worker assessment required.
How to apply: Apply at BPS social work department (servicio social) with household income evidence.
Primarily for Uruguayan low-income families. Expat families with formal BPS employment are unlikely to qualify. Mentioned for awareness of the system's reach.
Maternity Benefit (Subsidio por Maternidad)
100% of reference salary (average of last 6 months)
Duration: 14 weeks (6 prenatal + 8 postnatal)
Eligibility: All female BPS contributors with at least 3 months of contributions. Extends to self-employed workers (trabajadoras no dependientes) registered at BPS.
How to apply: Apply at BPS at 34 weeks of pregnancy with obstetric certificate from mutualista. Online application at bps.gub.uy.
Paid by BPS, not employer. Employer cannot deduct salary during leave. Covers both employed and self-employed (monotributo) workers.
Adoption Benefits
Same as biological birth — full 14 weeks paid leave + parental leave entitlements
Duration: 14 weeks minimum + optional parental leave extensions
Eligibility: Any BPS-registered worker adopting a child under 4 years. Same-sex couples and single adopters eligible.
How to apply: Apply at BPS with INAU adoption certificate and cédula.
Uruguay has one of South America's most progressive adoption systems — open to same-sex couples since 2013. INAU manages the adoption process domestically.
Sick child leave
5 working days per parent per child per year for illness of dependent children under 12. Paid by BPS (75% of reference salary for the caring parent). Medical certificate from mutualista required. Applicable to formal sector workers only. Self-employed workers have no statutory sick child leave equivalent — check BPS for current provisions.
Birth registration
All births in Uruguay must be registered at the Registro Civil (Civil Registry) within 10 days. Hospital births: hospital staff typically initiate registration — parents need cédulas (or passports for foreign nationals). Foreign children born in Uruguay automatically acquire Uruguayan nationality (jus soli). Parents must apply for the child's Cédula de Identidad at the Dirección Nacional de Identificación Civil (DNIC) — required for AFAM, school enrollment, FONASA, and all government services.
Childcare rights
Public childcare (CAIF centres — Centros de Atención a la Infancia y la Familia) is free for children under 4 from low-income families. ANEP public primary education is free from age 3 (maternal and preschool). Private kindergartens cost $U 8,000–25,000/month. Plan Ceibal provides laptops and internet connectivity to all primary school children.
Family Rights
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