Millions of workers from Argentina’s major labor confederations have gone on strike to express their disapproval of the proposed national legislative and economic reforms of recently-elected President Javier Milei. The labor confederations that called for this mass strike were the General Confederation of Labor and the Argentine Workers’ Central Union.
The catalyst behind these protests is President Milei’s contentious Decree 70/2023 and an omnibus bill. Milei, known for his anarcho-capitalist views, aspires to reshape the Argentinian economy through shock therapy, severe austerity, and privatization. Decree 70/2023, known as a “Necessity and Urgency Decree,” empowers the president to alter and revoke laws in cases of established national urgency. Specifically, this decree aims to deregulate the Argentinian economy.
This decree outlines major overhauls in sectors like energy and transportation, privatization of state companies, and imposition of hefty fines for protesting road blockades. A controversial aspect of this decree is the abolishment of article 958 of the Civil and Commercial Code, which originally mandated that contracts adhere to the limitations of law, public order and morals.
Legal scholars specializing in constitutional law in Argentina have debated over the constitutionality of this decree, pointing to article 29 of the Argentine Constitution. The Buenos Aires Press Union (Sipreba) rejected this Decree as “illegal, illegitimate and unconstitutional.” Their statement insists that the decree bears absolute and irremediable nullity for bypassing necessary precautions and overstepping executive privileges.
The omnibus bill advanced by Milei’s government has also faced significant criticism. Concerns range from limitation of freedom to strike, modification of the justification for the use of lethal force by security forces, to feared increase in abuse against LGBTQ+ groups due to changes in Law N° 27.499.
The bill continues to face challenges despite passing the lower house committee in the Argentinian Congress. The Milei government, which occupies a minority of the seats in both the lower house and the Senate, is actively seeking support for this bill from other political parties.
Minister of Economy Luis Caputo issued a dire warning to Congress last week, foreseeing harsher measures and increased suffering for Argentines if the bill doesn’t pass.