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https://theconversation.com/workers-in-argentina-face-the-biggest-blow-to-their-employment-rights-since-the-military-dictatorship-of-the-1970s-220611>
"When he was elected as president of Argentina in November 2023, Javier Milei
was seen by many voters as a political outsider. An economist by profession, he
promised a reset for the country which would end inflation and slash public
spending.
Amid diatribes against politicians and dismissals of the climate emergency as a
“socialist lie”, he was keen on wielding a chainsaw to symbolise his plans for
fixing a stagnant economy burdened with debt.
And since he took office, Milei has been busy with his agenda of cutting.
Within weeks he had published an 82-page executive decree as an inaugural phase
of his extensive deregulation.
The decree is designed to fundamentally change Argentinian society, directly
affecting the rights and protections of millions of workers. It has already
prompted comparisons with General Augusto Pinochet’s deregulation of the
Chilean economy in the 1970s.
One section of Milei’s decree aims to limit the right to strike, the right of
assembly and the right to collective bargaining. It would alter trade unions’
financial standing, workers’ healthcare provision and basic rights such as
maternity leave.
This is all presented as a way of streamlining the labour market, to improve
economic dynamism and growth. It is also seen as a way to dismantle the
ideology of rights and protections which Milei and his allies rail against.
But despite the rhetoric, there is no evidence that reforms of this kind in the
region have created jobs or improved the labour market dynamic. Instead,
evidence suggests they merely increase levels of poor quality employment.
Milei’s decree was swiftly followed by a 664-article reform bill covering a
vast range of issues, including the privatisation of 41 public companies
(including the state-run oil company YPF), changes to the electoral system and
the introduction of new taxes.
It also contains a declaration of emergency, not just in the economy, but in
matters of security, energy and health (and many others). To address this,
Milei is seeking to delegate legislative powers to the executive (himself) for
at least two years.
This would mean he could sidestep parliament for pretty much everything he
wants to do, reasoning that institutional democratic decision making is just
too slow. Arguing in favour of these special powers, one of Milei’s senior
allies stated: “If there is an economic crisis there will not be a valid
constitution.” Severe ills demand, in their view, unconventional remedies.
It would also suit Milei from a political perspective. Despite securing 55.6%
of the votes in the run-off election, his coalition holds a minority of seats
in both chambers of Argentina’s parliament. Executive power would mean being
able to avoid needed negotiations with other parties."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
