Argentina Labor Reform Vote Sparks Nationwide Strike and Flight Cancellations

Argentina’s lower house of Congress is preparing to vote on a controversial labor reform bill backed by libertarian President Javier Milei, as a nationwide strike led by the country’s largest union disrupts transport, banking, and key export operations. The 24-hour general strike, organized by the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), has significantly impacted daily life and intensified political tensions surrounding Milei’s economic agenda.

The CGT argues that the proposed labor reform threatens long-standing worker protections in Argentina, including the right to strike. Union leaders say the legislation weakens labor rights in favor of employers and foreign investors. Demonstrators gathered outside Congress in Buenos Aires, with the union declaring that workers across the country would unite to defend their rights.

The strike has caused widespread transportation disruptions. State carrier Aerolineas Argentinas announced the cancellation of 255 flights, mostly domestic routes, estimating financial losses of around $300 million. Santiago International Airport in Chile also reported suspended flights due to the ripple effects of the walkout. In Buenos Aires, subway services and many bus lines were halted, stranding commuters.

Maritime workers have expanded the protest with a 48-hour strike targeting cargo operations at the port of Rosario, one of the world’s largest agricultural export hubs. According to maritime data, at least 12 grain vessels carrying roughly 381,000 metric tons of soybean meal, wheat, corn, barley, sunflower seeds, and biodiesel have been affected, raising concerns about supply chain disruptions and export delays.

The Argentine government defends the labor overhaul, saying it will promote investment, reduce labor costs, and boost formal employment. The bill includes provisions requiring essential services to maintain minimum operations during strikes and reduces employer severance expenses by revising compensation calculations.

Investors are closely monitoring the congressional vote, viewing it as a critical test of President Milei’s ability to advance his free-market reforms. If amended, the bill will return to the Senate for final approval before becoming law.