Buenos Aires – Argentina’s largest labor unions staged a nationwide strike on , protesting President Javier Milei’s proposed overhaul of the country’s labor laws. The strike, which paralyzed key sectors including transportation, banking and healthcare, underscores the escalating tensions between Milei’s administration and organized labor as the bill moves through Congress.
The strike caused widespread disruption across Argentina. Bus and subway services were largely suspended, factories curtailed production, banks closed their doors, and hundreds of flights were canceled, leaving travelers stranded. Public hospitals postponed all but emergency surgeries. Reports indicate that garbage collection was also suspended, leading to accumulating waste in urban areas. The impact was particularly acute in Buenos Aires, where normally bustling streets were noticeably quieter and public transportation hubs were deserted.
While the strike aimed to demonstrate broad opposition to Milei’s reforms, the level of adherence was a point of contention. Jorge Sola, a co-leader of the CGT, Argentina’s main labor federation, claimed a “very important” level of participation, asserting that activity was halted “90%.” However, this figure was qualified, with Sola acknowledging that not everyone would agree with the assessment.
The proposed labor reforms are central to Milei’s broader economic agenda, which seeks to address Argentina’s chronic economic challenges, including high inflation and a large informal labor market. The bill, currently being debated in the Chamber of Deputies, aims to ease restrictions on hiring and firing, reduce severance pay, extend potential working hours to 12 hours a day, and broaden the definition of essential services – limiting the right to strike in those sectors. The government argues these changes will stimulate job creation and reduce the burden on businesses.
However, unions vehemently oppose the reforms, characterizing them as a rollback of workers’ rights and a move towards precarity. They argue that the changes will exacerbate income inequality and weaken the bargaining power of labor. The CGT has framed the legislation as a “precarization” of the workforce, rather than a modernization.
The strike was not without incident. Clashes erupted between protesters and police near the Congress building in Buenos Aires. Demonstrators reportedly threw bottles and stones at law enforcement officers, who responded with tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets. Approximately ten individuals were arrested following the confrontations, though reports suggest the violence was less severe than during a similar protest eight days prior, when Molotov cocktails were used.
Despite the protests, the government remains optimistic about securing passage of the bill. The reforms recently passed the Senate, albeit with some concessions made by the executive branch, including adjustments to employer contributions to healthcare coverage. Further concessions were made on , with the government abandoning provisions for decreasing benefits during extended sick leave. If approved by the Chamber of Deputies, the bill will return to the Senate for final ratification of the amended version, potentially as early as next week.
Milei, who was in Washington D.C. On , attending a “Peace Council” event with former U.S. President Donald Trump, has remained largely silent on the strike itself. His chief of staff, Manuel Adorni, criticized the action as “perverse” and an “extortion,” arguing that even those willing to work were prevented from doing so due to transportation disruptions.
The strike comes as Milei’s administration attempts to navigate a challenging economic landscape. While the government has achieved some success in curbing inflation – bringing it down from over 150% to 32% year-on-year – this has been accompanied by significant austerity measures and job losses. Nearly 300,000 jobs have been lost in both the public and private sectors since Milei took office in December 2023, contributing to a decline in consumer spending and economic activity.
Milei is aiming to have the labor reforms finalized by , in time for his annual address to Congress. The outcome of the legislative battle will be a crucial test of his ability to deliver on his promises of economic transformation and will likely shape the trajectory of Argentina’s economy for years to come.
