Argentine Congress debates Milei's labor reform amid a general strike

Argentine Congress debates Milei’s labor reform amid general strike

A drone view shows trains parked at Retiro train station during a 24-hour strike against the labor reforms proposed by the libertarian government of President Javier Milei to attract investments and boost growth, which unions say would roll back workers’ rights, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Feb 19, 2026. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian · Reuters

Reuters

Thu, Feb 19, 2026, 9:48 p.m. GMT+9 2 min read

BUENOS AIRES, Feb 19 (Reuters) - The Chamber of Deputies will vote on Thursday on a controversial labor reform proposed by ultra-liberal President Javier ‌Milei, which has sparked widespread union protests that have paralyzed Argentina with a ‌general strike.

The bill, approved last week by ​the Senate, is expected to be amended in the lower house, which would require the Senate to ratify the final version, supported by the ruling party and its center-right allies.

In an attempt to prevent its approval, the ​General Confederation of Labor (CGT) launched a 24-hour strike this Thursday, joined by transportation workers, public employees, and bank workers, among others.

Grain exports - Argentina is one of the world’s leading food exporters - have been affected since Wednesday by a protest by maritime workers.

“This ​project will have a completely ​negative impact on the ​world of ​work. This is a lie; it will not create more jobs,” said Octavio Argüello, a leader of the powerful CGT, on local television.

Argentine unions complain that the bill restricts the right to strike, reduces severance pay, authorizes extending the workday up to 12 hours, and modifies overtime pay, among other points.

The government has ​stated that its “labor modernization” proposal aims to encourage formal employment, as the informal sector currently exceeds ​40% in ​the country, while also reducing the number of dismissal lawsuits, which many employers consider a headache.

The vote in the ​Chamber of Deputies, expected to take place late at night, is anticipated to occur amid a large demonstration of workers.

(Report ​by Nicolás Misculin; Edited by Jorge Otaola)

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