Argentinian workers’ wages have decreased by 17% between December 2023 and January 2024, according to the latest official data. This is the largest drop after a devaluation, based on an analysis by the Economic Research Center of Banco Provincia (Bapro). The measurement compares decreases after exchange rate jumps in December 2013, November 2015, August 2018, August 2019, and November 2023, concluding that the current one is the worst wage collapse. The report states that, in a historical series of real wages, January’s data imply a return to levels from March 2006, almost 18 years ago. In the race between prices and wages last year, workers’ wages grew by 191.5%, against an inflation rate of 254.2%, according to January 2024 data from Indec, the official statistics agency.
President Javier Milei’s announcement yesterday of measures aimed at reforming the prison system, including selling prisons to real estate companies in exchange for building new ones far away from urban centers, has caused controversy. The new prisons, following a privatization model inspired by the United States, will be of better quality, higher security, and without spending a dime, according to the ultraliberal president in an interview with Cnn Spanish. “There are prisons that were designed at a certain historical moment, but population growth has kept them in an urbanized area,” explained the head of state.
Protests continue after the announcement of 15,000 layoffs of state employees last week. This drastic plan to reduce public spending has sparked major protests across the country. New clashes between police and protesters were seen in Buenos Aires, where thousands of state workers’ union (Ate) militants protested in front of the Ministry of Economy and the Casa Rosada. Following the new anti-picket protocol introduced by the government, law enforcement tried to prevent the disruption of traffic, leading to confrontation with protesters. Ate’s general secretary, Rodolfo Aguiar, denounced the police’s “aggression” and “disproportionate deployment” of officers. “It seems that there is money to repress workers,” commented Aguiar.
On April 4, public school teachers went on strike in protest against salary reductions, budget cuts, and the elimination of the National Fund for Teachers (Fonid). The teachers’ union (Ctera) is demanding the restoration of Fonid, national negotiations to restore salaries in relation to the 276% annual inflation rate, and the introduction of a national minimum wage. “Teachers can’t make ends meet. It’s an unsustainable situation. Rent, utilities, transportation, and food prices are rising, but teachers are still earning the same as they were in the middle of last year,” said Ctera’s general secretary Sonia Alesso. Discussions within the General Confederation of Labor (Cgt) continue for the convening of a second general strike after the one held on January 24.
