Argentines protest as lower house passes divisive labor bill
Deutsche Welle
February 20, 2026
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Argentines took to the streets on Thursday to protest a controversial labor reform bill backed by President Javier Milei. The bill, which passed through the lower house of Congress with 135 votes in favor and 115 against, aims to grant employers greater flexibility in hiring, firing, severance, and collective bargaining. Opponents argue that the measure would undermine decades of worker protections established since the 1940s. Unions warn it could weaken unions' bargaining power, limit the right to strike, extend probation periods, reduce severance pay, and allow for longer workdays of up to 12 hours.
The bill has sparked widespread criticism as workers fear its impact on their rights and job security. Nearly 40% of Argentina's workforce already operates in informal employment, and unions claim the reforms would only worsen this situation. The government, however, maintains that the changes will reduce informality by lowering taxes on employers and spurring investment, ultimately creating more formal jobs. This aligns with Milei's austerity policies, which have already led to significant public sector job cuts and a decline in disposable income.
Thousands of workers across industries, including factories, banks, hospitals, and transportation, participated in the general strike, marking one of the largest since Milei took office in December 2023. The strike paralyzed public transport, with garbage collectors also joining the
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Originally published on Deutsche Welle on 2/20/2026