Argentina Gripped by General Strike as Labor Reforms Advance in Congress

Nationwide Stoppage Paralyzes Services

Argentina experienced widespread disruption on Thursday, February 19, 2026, as the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), the country's largest labor federation, initiated a 24-hour general strike. The industrial action was called to protest President Javier Milei's comprehensive labor reform bill, which was under debate in the Chamber of Deputies on the same day. The strike, the fourth since President Milei took office in December 2023, saw significant adherence, with the CGT claiming a 90% compliance rate across various sectors.

The impact was particularly acute in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA), where public transportation came to a near standstill. Metropolitan trains, subways, and most bus services were suspended, severely affecting daily commutes. Air travel faced considerable disruption, with Aerolíneas Argentinas cancelling 255 flights and other carriers rescheduling services, impacting tens of thousands of passengers. Ports across Argentina, including major agricultural export hubs like the Port of Rosario/San Lorenzo–Timbúes complex, were also paralyzed, halting cargo handling and grain shipments. Beyond transport, public administration, in-branch banking, schools, and some hospitals (operating only for emergency services) were affected, and uncollected garbage accumulated in streets.

Controversial Labor Reforms at Core of Protest

The CGT and other unions vehemently oppose President Milei's labor reform bill, arguing that it rolls back fundamental workers' rights. Key provisions drawing criticism include:

• Reduction of severance packages
• Permission for payment in kind (goods or services)
• Extension of the working day to a potential 12 hours
• Restrictions on the right to strike
• Modifications to sick-leave provisions, though a controversial article allowing wage cuts for illness-related absences was later removed during parliamentary negotiations.

Union leaders have labeled the proposed changes as 'regressive' and 'unconstitutional,' vowing to challenge them in court if enacted. The CGT summarized its stance with the slogan: 'It's not modernization; it's precarization.' They assert that the reforms attack workers' rights, national industry, and the country's future, stating, 'Rights are not negotiable.'

Government Defends Reforms Amidst Clashes

President Milei's government maintains that the labor reforms are crucial for 'modernizing' labor rules, reducing informal employment (which affects nearly 40% of the workforce), and stimulating hiring by easing employers' tax burdens. The government had previously secured approval for the bill in the Senate and aimed for its passage in the Chamber of Deputies before Milei's March 1 state-of-the-nation address.

During the strike, the government warned it would dock pay from state workers who did not report to work. Security forces were heavily deployed around the National Congress building in Buenos Aires, where the bill was being debated. Clashes erupted between demonstrators and police, with officers using tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets to disperse protesters, leading to several arrests. In the early hours of Friday, February 20, the Chamber of Deputies approved the labor reform bill with 135 votes in favor and 115 against, sending it back to the Senate for a final confirmatory vote after some amendments.