Argentina: thousands march against Milei’s labor reform on Labor Day

Thousands of people, independent and union members, demonstrated this Wednesday in Argentina for Labor Day and against the labor reform promoted by the government of Javier Milei.

“We see ourselves having to repudiate a labor reform that goes backwards in the workers’ rightsso this becomes a day of fight and claim”Maia Volcovinsky, member of the board of directors of the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), told AFP.

The Executive’s labor reform extends the trial period for new employees from three to six months and even up to a year; condones fines for companies with unregistered workers to encourage their formalization, and proposes the implementation of a labor termination fund that replaces the current one compensation regime.

Although it has already obtained approval in the Chamber of Deputiesfor its application to be full it needs to be approved in the Argentine Senatewhere the ruling party has only seven of the 72 senators.

The CGT issued a statement in which it vindicated the date and repudiated the measures taken by the Milei government.

“When all social, labor, union and pension rights are threatened, it is a day of vindication and defense of the achievements and acquired rights that are intended to be violated.“, stated the CGT in the statement.

Union groups and politicians held events throughout the country, although the main one was in the center of Buenos Aireswith long columns of people carrying union flags in the center of the city.

“We are in a government that does not understand the workers, their struggle and the defense of the unions for the workers. So we are going to have difficult days and moments if this government does not change its attitude towards workers.“Rubén Aguiar, a baker and union leader, told AFP.

There was room for some curious postcards, like a woman who from her open window sang a tango towards the street in homage to Eva Perón.

“Having so many companions here fills me with emotion, I ask God for strength to finally see this country freed from those who are enemies of the men and women. workers“the woman told the C5N news channel.