BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) 鈥� Argentine workers protested in the capital of Buenos Aires on Thursday, as annual May Day demonstrations in the South American nation coincided with smoldering anger over President Javier Milei’s of long-robust labor protections.
The General Confederation of Labor, or CGT, Argentina鈥檚 largest union group, called the march to 鈥渄efend decent employment鈥� against Milei鈥檚 changes to the labor code, which since 1974 had guaranteed generous protections and rights for Argentine workers but also meant high business costs that scared off foreign investors.
Past presidents for decades to liberalize the labor market but failed in the face of fierce resistance from Argentina’s powerful unions. Despite weeks of protests and a , Milei the labor-law package in February in a major victory for his .
Milei鈥檚 opponents are clinging to an challenging the law鈥檚 constitutionality. Union leaders plan to file a further petition after a court last week overturned an the law鈥檚 implementation at their request. The case is expected to go to the Supreme Court.
The labor overhaul has struck a nerve in a nation where workers鈥� unions helped found the left-leaning Peronist movement that here since the 1940s. It also comes as Milei鈥檚 flagship drive to eliminate and unemployment has ticked up.
鈥淪ocial discontent is being felt everywhere, and not only due to the drop in consumption,鈥� Jorge Sola, one of the CGT leaders told local radio ahead of Thursday鈥檚 march. 鈥淚t is due to family debt, job losses and worse working conditions than what we had before.鈥�
Under the new law, companies can now increase workdays to 12 hours up from eight, extend employee probation periods and dismiss workers more easily.
The legislation also curtails workers鈥� right to strike and limits courts鈥� discretion on severance payouts, which critics say long ensnared employers in costly lawsuits and discouraged formal hiring. Nearly half of all Argentines work .
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