Argentines Protest Outside Congress as Debate on Labour Reform Goes On

2026-02-21 - 00:24

ARGENTINA – Argentina’s lower house of Congress continued on Thursday (February 19) to debate a contentious labour reform backed by libertarian President Javier Milei, as protesters gathered at the Congress square and unions staged a nationwide strike. The government argues that the bill, approved last week by the Senate with support from the ruling party and its center‐right allies, would encourage investment and promote formal employment. The reform would impose new limits on the right to strike by requiring essential services to maintain minimum operations during stoppages. It would also lower severance costs for employers by excluding certain bonuses from the compensation formula. In response, Argentina’s largest umbrella union CGT has launched a 24‐hour stoppage involving transport workers, public sector staff and bank employees. The state airline, Aerolineas Argentinas, went on strike. The subway and many bus lines in the city of Buenos Aires were also at a standstill. The strikers joined the maritime workers’ federation, which began a 48‐hour walkout on Wednesday, targeting cargo vessel operations mainly in the port of Rosario, one of the world’s largest agricultural export hubs. Outside the Congress, after several groups had left, unrest between some protesters and security forces began, with the latter using a water cannon truck and firing tear gas to disperse protesters. The vote in the Chamber of Deputies is expected late on Thursday. Any changes to the bill would send it back to the Senate for a final vote before it can become law.