THOUSANDS of protesters gathered in Argentina as the lower house of Congress debated a new labor reform bill strongly supported by President Javier Milei.
Large crowds marched through Buenos Aires with flags, accompanied by drums and trumpets.
The protest comes as Argentine lawmakers debated two economic reform bills proposed by Milei.
The bills include measures that will subject lower salaries to increased income tax.
Other measures will enable greater privatization of state-run services.
But the demonstrators oppose these measures, claiming it as a regressive reform.
“They present us with a labour reform under the title of labour modernization and in truth a real setback is taking place, we are facing a regressive reform in terms of labour rights, unregistered employment is encouraged, the trial period is extended to six, eight and twelve months,” according to Aguiar, Secretary-General of ATE Union.
“They are setting up a repressive state at the service of the powerful, gendarmes of the interests of the powerful and for that, they need to fire the workers fundamentally from all social and productive areas,” said Oscar de Isasi – ATE Union Secretary.
“What worries me the most? It is the freedom that businessmen have to do and undo Augusto what they want, because Milei is not ruling here, here those who are ruling are the businessmen who have a clown like Milei who appears as President but the real measures, they are taken away from here,” Ruben Dario ‘Pollo’ Sobrero, Argentine Union Leader stressed.
“A labour reform is being delivered so that workers no longer have the right to claim, the right to compensation that was historically achieved with a lot of struggle in the streets is now being delivered here, companies do not have workers but rather collaborators, they change your name only so you don’t have rights,” Raul Godoy, Worker stated.
“This whole reform is a reform of death, neglecting the disabled and the retirees, they want to kill us, they are killing us,” Kelly, Aeronautical Worker stated.
Last week, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets of the Argentine capital to protest against Milei’s austerity measures and budget cuts to the education sector.
But the Argentine government contends that the sweeping economic reforms – which have seen widespread protests – will help restore the financial stability of the country.
