Javier Milei's government is pushing for approval of its labor reform in the Senate by early February, convening opposition leaders. Meanwhile, Salta Governor Gustavo Sáenz warns of fiscal impacts on provinces, and Peronism presents an alternative project without a unified stance.
Argentina's government, led by Javier Milei, is intensifying negotiations to pass its labor reform in Congress. Security Minister Patricia Bullrich convened opposition bloc leaders for Wednesday to align positions and ensure the bill is debated in the Senate by early February. The ruling party targets a possible session on February 11 in the upper house, followed by a debate in the Lower House two weeks later.
Meanwhile, Salta Governor Gustavo Sáenz met with his four congressional legislators on Tuesday to assess the reform's impact. The focus was on the tax chapter, which could affect coparticipation funds and provincial works. "Salta will not resign funds or strategic works," Sáenz warned. Senator Flavia Royón stressed: “It proposes a tax cut that has a fiscal impact on provinces and coparticipable resources.” Deputies Yolanda Vega, Pablo Outes, and Bernardo Biella agreed on defending provincial resources, arguing the national government cannot cut taxes at the provinces' expense. Sáenz, who recently met Interior Minister Diego Santilli, expressed willingness for dialogue: “We shouldn't fear change or progress.”
Unión por la Patria (UxP), the main Peronist opposition bloc, has not set a common stance. In its Tuesday bloc meeting, the issue was not discussed, focusing instead on the Mercosur-EU agreement. Deputy Raquel “Kelly” Olmos presented an alternative labor modernization bill, including simplified collective bargaining, extended parental leaves to 120 and 30 days respectively, a progressive reduction of the workday to 40 hours weekly, and a regime for digital platform workers. Olmos, former Labor Minister, garnered support from legislators like Eduardo Valdés and Agustín Rossi, but lacks endorsement from the cristinista sector or bloc leadership. “It's a deliberative stage until reports are built,” she explained. This indecision highlights internal tensions in UxP, with criticism over the lack of prior debate.
The negotiations underscore the balance between labor modernization and federal protection, with provinces like Salta demanding safeguards for their resources.
