Strike over labour reforms brings Argentina’s capital to a near-standstill

The Chamber of Deputies is weighing a labour bill that would increase work hours, cut severance pay and ease firings.Published On 19 Feb 2026A strike has ground much of Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires to a halt, as businesses close and demonstrators take to the streets to protest against President Javier Milei’s proposed labour reforms.Thursday’s 24-hour general strike was the fourth of Milei’s term as president, though smaller strikes have also been a regular occurrence since he took office in 2023.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Can Trump save Argentina’s crisis-stricken economy as he hopes?list 2 of 3Milei vetoes pension, disability spending increases as Argentina feels cutslist 3 of 3Protesters clash with police over bid to restrict Argentina’s labour rightsend of listAs a result of the protest, subways were shuttered in Buenos Aires. Fewer bus lines were running. And Aerolineas Argentinas, the state airline, anticipated cancelling 255 flights, at a loss of $300m. Even banks and schools were closed in solidarity with the strike.One of Argentina’s largest unions, the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), called on citizens to show their opposition to the labour reform “in the streets, in Congress, in the courts and in every workplace”.“If they attack workers’ rights, they attack national industry and the future of the country,” the union wrote in a social media post. “Rights are not negotiable.”The general strike coincides with Argentina’s Chamber of Deputies debating the labour reforms on Thursday.Opposition lawmakers argue with Chamber of Deputies President Martin Menem during debate on a labour reform bill on February 19 [Gustavo Garello/AP Photo]Milei, a libertarian politician, had campaigned on slashing regulations that he felt inhibited Argentina’s economy, famously wielding a chainsaw at rallies to illustrate his hardline approach.His party, the right-wing La Libertad Avanza, has pushed a package of labour reforms that critics argue would weaken worker rights, reduce the number of jobs available, and set back the quality of life in the country.