The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare () of Uruguay is the ministry of the Government of Uruguay that is responsible for conducting and carrying out policies related to labor activity in the country, as well as supervising social and food benefits.

This government department is also responsible for acting as mediator of the parties when there are internal conflicts, and defending the rights of workers and enforcing them by their employers. It is the responsibility of the ministry to control the security conditions in the jobs. The Ministry is headquartered in the Juncal Street in Ciudad Vieja, Montevideo. The current Minister of Labor and Social Welfare is Juan Castillo, who has held the position since March 1, 2025.https://www.gub.uy/ministerio-trabajo-seguridad-social/comunicacion/noticias/juan-castillo-asumio-ministro-trabajo-seguridad-social

History The existence of a government department dealing with labor and social security issues dates back to the creation of the Ministry of Industry, Labor and Public Instruction, created on 12 March 1907 by President Claudio Williman by dividing the former Ministry of Development. On 4 March 1912, President José Batlle y Ordoñez reorganized the Ministry of Industry, Labor and Public Instruction, the Ministry of Industry, Labor and Communications and the Ministry of Justice and Public Instruction.

A new cabinet reshuffle took place under the de facto government of Gabriel Terra in 1936, organizing the Ministry of Industry and Labor and the Ministry of Public Instruction and Social Welfare. After the constitutional reform produced in March 1967, the Ministry of Labor was created, the first holder of the position was Enrique Vescovi, while Héctor Hugo Barbagelata was the first undersecretary. In a final ministerial adjustment in 1974, it generates, from these two departments, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare.

List of ministers

List of ministers of labor and social affairs of Uruguay since 1935:

Ministers of Public Instruction and Social Provision Minister Period Martín R. Echegoyen 1935–1936 Eduardo Víctor Haedo 1936–1938 Toribio Olaso 1939–1941 Cyro Giambruno 1941–1943 Luis Mattiauda 1943–1946 Juan Carbajal Victorica 1946–1947 Francisco Forteza 1947–1948 Oscar Secco Ellauri 1948–1951 Eduardo Blanco Acevedo 1951–1952 Justino Zavala Muniz 1952–1955 Renán Rodríguez 1955–1956 Clemente Ruggia 1956–1959 Eduardo Pons Etcheverry 1959–1963 Juan E. Pivel Devoto 1963–1967

Ministers of Industry and Work Minister Period Zoilo Saldias 1935–1938 Abalcazar García 1938–1939 Gervasio A. Posadas Belgrano 1939–1941 Julio Cesar Canessa 1941–1943 Javier Mendivil 1943–1945 Rafael Schiaffino 1945–1946 Hector Álvarez Cina 1946–1947 Alberto Fermín Zubiría 1947–1948 Fernando Fariña 1948–1949 Santiago I. Rompani 1950–1951 Jose G. Lissidini 1951–1952 Héctor Grauert 1952–1955 Carlos B. Moreno 1955–1956 Fermín Sorhueta 1956–1957 Héctor Grauert 1957–1959 Enrique Erro 1959–1960 Ángel María Gianola 1960–1963 Walter Santoro 1963–1964 Francisco Mario Ubillos 1964–1967

Labor and Social Affairs Minister Party Period Enrique Véscovi Colorado Party 1967 Guzmán Acosta y Lara Colorado Party 1967 Manuel Flores Mora Colorado Party 1968 Julio César Espínola Colorado Party 1968–1969 Pedro Cersósimo Colorado Party 1969 Jorge Sapelli Colorado Party 1969–1972 Julio Amorín Larrañaga Colorado Party 1972 Carlos Abdala National Party 1972–1973 Marcial Bugallo National Party 1973–1974 José Etcheverry Stirling Without Known Affiliation 1974–1979 Carlos Maeso Without Known Affiliation 1979–1982 Luis Crisci Without Known Affiliation 1982–1983 Néstor Bolentini Unión Patriótica (Uruguay) 1983–1984 Ramón Malvasio Without Known Affiliation 1984–1985 Hugo Fernández Faingold Colorado Party 1985–1989 Luis Brezzo Colorado Party 1989–1990 Carlos Cat National Party 1990–1991 Álvaro Carbone National Party 1991–1993 Ricardo Reilly Salaverry National Party 1993–1995 Ana Lía Piñeyrúa National Party 1995–1999 Juan Ignacio Mangado Colorado Party 1999–2000 Álvaro Alonso National Party 2000–2002 Santiago Pérez del Castillo Colorado Party 2002–2005 Eduardo Bonomi Broad Front 2005–2009 Julio Baraibar Colorado Party 2009–2010 Eduardo Brenta Broad Front 2010–2015 Ernesto Murro Broad Front 2015–2020 Pablo Mieres Independent Party – Coalición Multicolor 2020 – 2024 Mario Arizti National Party – Coalición Multicolor 2024 – 2025 Juan Castillo Broad Front 2025 – Incumbent ¹ Ministers of the Military-Civic government (1973–1985).

External links

Uruguayan Labor and Social Affairs (in Spanish only)

References