Port of Montevideo faces rising tension over Katoen Natie labor dispute

The labor conflict at the Terminal Cuenca del Plata (TCP) in the Port of Montevideo is intensifying, raising concerns regarding Uruguay’s regional logistics competitiveness. The dispute involves approximately 550 workers and centers on the renewal of a collective bargaining agreement. The conflict has resulted in more than 30 days of strikes throughout the year.

As the Ministry of Labor struggles to mediate between the workers, Katoen Natie, and the National Ports Administration, business sectors report significant financial losses. The impasse is impacting port operations, with large cargo ships increasingly docking at the Port of Buenos Aires instead, leaving Montevideo without activity. Political figures, including members of the National Party, have called for the executive branch to declare the activity essential to ensure continuity.