| About a quarter of all Uruguayans work for the
government. This is a result of Uruguay's extensive social service system
as well as the fact that the Uruguayan government, until fairly recently,
owned industries in the energy and transportation sectors. Nearly 20% of
the work force is employed in manufacturing.
Many of Uruguay's industries are related to raising
cattle or sheep. Wool is the principal export. Meat packaging and exporting,
leather tanning, and the production of glue and soap are also important.
Many Uruguayans are employed in small family workshops and cottage industries,
making clothes, shoes and tools. There is a small agricultural sector,
which produces sugar, rice, grains, oilseeds and tobacco. A few vineyards
in the north, near the border with Brazil, produce wine. Tourism is becoming
increasingly important. Most tourists come from other South American countries. |
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| Labour unions have played an important role in
Uruguay. They have contributed to the discussion of social issues and supported
social legislation. In the 1970s, some unionists opposed the military authorities
and were persecuted for their views. With the return of democracy in the
1980s, the political persecution of union leaders ceased. |
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Did you know? |
| Uruguay
is a member of MERCOSUR, an economic alliance uniting Argentina, Brazil,
Paraguay and Uruguay. |
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| Labour laws require that men and women be paid
equal wages for equal work. Discrimination because of sex, religion, colour
or political beliefs is not permitted. Maternity benefits are provided
for mothers so that they need not return to work immediately after giving
birth. Women earning low wages are entitled to child care benefits. The
elderly and workers who are injured on the job are entitled to a pension.
Uruguay is generally a prosperous country, but
the economy has suffered several setbacks. A drought in 1988-89 caused
the deaths of hundreds of thousands of cattle, and reduced the output of
hydroelectric power. Economic problems in Argentina and Brazil, Uruguay's
most important trading partners, have also affected the country. Unemployment
and poverty increased during the 1990s. People continue to leave the countryside,
hoping to find work in the cities, but often they can find only jobs such
as selling goods on the street or cleaning shoes. |
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Until fairly recently, many Uruguayan workplaces
would close at noon for a few hours so that people could go home for lunch
or take a long rest in the middle of the day.
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Did you know? |
| By
law, children under fifteen cannot work unless they have a special permit.
In practice, however, many children younger than fifteen work in restaurants
and family businesses. The prevalence of children begging in the streets
of the cities increased during the 1990s. |
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