Argentina's Senate began debating the labor reform bill pushed by Javier Milei's government on Wednesday, with the ruling party claiming sufficient votes after 28 modifications agreed with the opposition. Outside Congress, a CGT march against the bill turned into clashes with police, involving molotov cocktails, at least 14 arrests, and 15 injuries. Senators from various blocs voiced criticisms and defenses during the session.
The session in Argentina's Senate started around 11:00 on February 11, 2026, with the ruling La Libertad Avanza party claiming support from 44 senators to grant half-sanction to the labor modernization bill. Patricia Bullrich, head of the libertarian bloc, defended the initiative as 'a transcendent law' aimed at balancing the labor system and reducing extreme judicialization. The government incorporated last-minute changes, such as removing the chapter on Income Tax to avoid impacting provincial revenue, and maintaining mandatory union dues with a 2% cap for two years.
Outside Congress in Buenos Aires, the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) called a peaceful march from 15:00, but incidents escalated with protesters throwing stones and molotov cocktails at police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons. Reports indicate at least 14 arrests, 15 injuries—including police and a journalist—and damage to sidewalks, containers, and urban furniture, estimated at 270 million pesos for the City of Buenos Aires. Interior Minister Diego Santilli condemned the events: 'These are not workers' defenders, they are organized criminals'.
In the debate, Kirchnerism criticized the reform as a 'removal of rights'. Juliana Di Tullio stated: 'What we are doing is voting the labor reform demanded by the IMF'. The PRO will support overall but reject articles on mandatory union contributions, according to Martín Goerling: 'The time is now to give the worker the power to choose'. Senators like Gerardo Zamora and Anabel Fernández Sagasti announced votes against, arguing it affects rights and wage floors. The government, with Milei following from Olivos, plans to denounce those responsible for the violence and celebrates the achieved consensus.
