Any improvements in benefits for same-sex couples appear to be a long way off in Uruguay.

Conservatives within President Tabaré Vazquez's Center-Left government have managed to delay the introduction of a bill to provide limited rights to gay and lesbian couples along with unmarried opposite-sex couples until the executive branch provides the possibility to grant some rights in the bill that must be authorized from the national government such as social security benefits.

Cabinet moderates had been pressing to bring in the bill as soon as possible.

Uruguay lags behind other Spanish speaking territories and neighboring countries in providing rights to same-sex couples.