Uruguayan legislators, in addition to earning an enormously high salary compared to the average in Uruguay, have exclusive privileges that no other citizen enjoys.
In Uruguay, there are 130 legislators—99 representatives and 31 senators, including the Vice President of the Republic—who receive an enormously high monthly remuneration, among the highest in the Americas.
In addition to a monthly salary and extra allowances, such as the so-called "representation expenses" and allowances for cell phones, legislators have the privilege of traveling abroad in pure luxury with all expenses paid.
When one or several legislators travel to any country in the world, it is Uruguayan taxpayers who pay for this privilege with their taxes.
There are the so-called "per diems," which is money in dollars that each legislator receives according to their destination and the number of days spent outside the country.
In theory, upon their return, the legislator must submit an expense report for the money spent.
If there is any money left over, it should be returned. However, in practice, legislators spend and squander the money they are given on whatever they please. If there is any left over, they almost never return it.
Some figures
Of the 2,188 trips made by parliamentarians between 2010 and 2025, on average, 91% of the per diems granted were used.
