LatinNews Daily - 13 August 2025

*Uruguay’s umbrella trade union organisation Plenario Intersindical de Trabajadores-Convención Nacional de Trabajadores (PIT-CNT) has staged a partial general strike to call for a 1% tax on the wealthiest 1% of the country, reduced working hours, and better pay, among other demands. During the demonstration in Montevideo yesterday the president of the PIT-CNT, Marcelo Abdala, argued that a wealth tax would only affect around 25,000 people with assets worth over US$1m. “This money would not go to the Cayman Islands or the Bahamas; it would return to the domestic market, it would allow people to eat better, study, and develop, contributing to national development to reduce child poverty,” Abdala said. Unions are ramping up the pressure on the left-wing government led by President Yamandú Orsi. Despite some factions of ruling Frente Amplio (FA) coalition supporting the PIT-CNT’s calls for a wealth tax, Orsi has been reluctant to impose more taxes. During the demonstration, Abdala also reiterated calls for a law establishing a maximum working week of 40 hours, with workers receiving payment for 48 hours, saying this would boost occupational health, gender equality, a positive work environment, and productivity. Looking ahead to the next national budget, Abdala called for 6% of GDP to be allocated to education, plus 1% for research, investment in housing, recruitment of personnel in necessary state areas, an end to outsourcing and precarious employment, and an active role for the state in the development strategy.

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