Milei’s labor reform suffers a new setback in Argentina

The Argentine Justice ruled again this Thursday in favor of suspending a labor reform included in a vast decree by the president Javier Milei and rejected by the unions.

In addition, a federal judge authorized the processing of other protections against the decree during the judicial fair.

The decision of the Chamber of Labor Appeals to suspend the labor chapter responds to an appeal for protection presented by the Central of Workers of Argentina (CTA) against the so-called Decree of Necessity and Urgency (DNU) that covers numerous regulations and subjects.

The “The labor reform violates the right to strike, enables dismissal without cause and without compensation and seeks to tie the unions hand and foot,” wrote the CTA in celebrating the ruling.

This is the second precautionary measure in this matter after on Wednesday the same Chamber decided in favor of another protection against the DNU presented by the main labor union in Argentina, the General Confederation of Labor (CGT).

The DNU, promulgated by Milei on December 21, came into force last Friday and contemplates modifications to more than 300 regulations, among others in labor, commercial, industrial, tax, financial, energy and environmental matters.

The government is expected to appeal these decisions, which are provisional until the validity of the DNU is discussed in Congress.

Suspension of judicial fair

Meanwhile, in another setback for Milei, a federal judge suspended the January judicial recess so that the judges could rule on the numerous amparos presented against the DNU.

“I resolve to enable the judicial fair in these proceedings”wrote federal judge Enrique Lavié Pico in a ruling ordering that all actions against the DNU be dealt with by “the corresponding jurisdictions.”

Until Wednesday of last week, the newspaper Ámbito cited 13 complaints in court as a result of the megadecree, while Perfil reported 25 two days later. One of these complaints accuses Milei criminally of “abuse of authority” and for “betrayal of the country.”

This Thursday morning, Milei assured journalists that he is aware that a large part of the population suffers from many of the decisions made by the government, but that “Doing nothing or doing the same thing we had been doing was going to be infinitely worse.”

Presented in a context of serious economic crisis in Argentina with annual inflation exceeding the 160% and a poverty of 40%Milei’s megadecree opens the doors to the privatization of public companies and repeals laws to protect consumers against abusive price increases.

“I don’t want an Argentina with 98% of poor and half of destitute, Milei said, and maintained that the government works “to fight to avoid the crisis.”

“And we are achieving it,” He added, ensuring that improvements will be seen in 15 years.