Argentina ground to a halt Thursday as the country’s largest union federation staged a 24-hour general strike against President Javier Milei’s labor reform. Buses, trains, subways, flights, banks, public schools, and all but emergency hospital services shut down — the broadest stoppage of Milei’s presidency.
The strike, called by the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), coincided with the lower house beginning debate on Milei’s overhaul of the labor code. The Senate approved the bill last week by 42 to 30 amid mass protests and police clashes that led to about 30 arrests.
255 flights canceled, Brazilian carriers hit
State carrier Aerolíneas Argentinas canceled 255 flights, affecting over 31,000 passengers at an estimated cost of $3 million. The airline rescheduled operations and moved flights outside the strike window where possible.
Brazilian carriers were caught in the disruption. Latam altered flights after ground-handling workers at Intercargo joined the strike. Gol said operations were shut down in Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza, and Rosário. Both offered free rebooking or refunds. Azul, which only flies seasonal routes to Argentina in winter, was unaffected.
What the bill does
Unions say the reform would reduce severance packages, extend the maximum workday from eight to twelve hours, permit partial payment in goods and services, and restrict the right to strike. A last-minute clause that would halve wages during non-work-related illness prompted particular outrage. The CGT has vowed to challenge the law in court if it passes.
Milei’s government argues the changes will reduce informal employment — which exceeds 40% of the workforce — and stimulate hiring by cutting employers’ tax burden. The president monitored events from Washington, where he attended the first session of Donald Trump’s Board of Peace initiative.
Economic backdrop
The strike lands amid mounting pressure on Argentine industry. Unions say 300,000 jobs have been lost since Milei took office in December 2023, and more than 21,000 companies have closed. On Wednesday, Fate — the country’s main tire manufacturer — announced the shutdown of its Buenos Aires plant and roughly 900 layoffs, blaming uncontrolled import competition. Milei wants the reform passed before his March 1 state-of-the-nation address, but any amendments in the lower house would send the bill back to the Senate for a second vote. This is part of The Rio Times’ daily coverage of Argentina affairs and Latin American financial news.
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