Around 1:30 a.m. local time this Thursday, February 12, senators in Argentina approved in principle the labor law bill with 42 votes in favor and 30 against after 14 hours of debate. Since the moments of the debate, thousands of people have protested in the streets of the country's capital. At least 43 protesters were arrested and several people were injured, including members of the security forces.

First modification: 02/12/2026 - 15:05 Last modification: 02/12/2026 - 15:12

The initial approval of the labor reform in the Senate gave President Javier Milei a victory that underscored the president's new influence in Congress and his more pragmatic legislative approach.

But on the streets of the city of Buenos Aires, the reality has been different, with the rejection of thousands of people who claim that the reform will eliminate substantial workers' rights.

At least 43 arrested and four officers injured

Thousands of workers mobilized by powerful unions gathered in a central square in the center of Buenos Aires since Wednesday. The reform was generally approved in the Senate in the early hours of this Thursday.

At least 43 people have been arrested and several have been injured, including four security agents, according to figures from the local newspaper 'Clarín'.

Read alsoArgentine Senate endorses the labor reform: what does it propose and why does it cause the rejection of the unions?

Clashes with police and traffic blockade

Various incidents were recorded in the streets of Buenos Aires with the throwing of stones and Molotov stones, while agents from the Gendarmerie and Federal Police responded with tear gas and mobilized an armored vehicle to push dozens of people back.

As the hours passed, the tension escalated and the uniformed officers fired rubber bullets. The protesters responded by burning garbage tanks and throwing bottles, among other elements.

Read alsoArgentina registers a rise in inflation while doubts about the measurement grow

Violent scenes and pragmatic dialogues

President Javier Milei and his officials lashed out at the left-wing opposition, while security forces struggled to control protesters in front of Congress, firing water cannons and rubber bullets. Among those arrested are people accused of attacking police officers.

"The old and rancid union establishment calls to 'set the country on fire' because they do not like labor modernization (...) They prefer to protect their sectoral privileges at the expense of harming Argentines," wrote the Government spokesman, Javier Lanari, in X.

Opponents of the reform say it would reverse measures that protect workers from abuses and the country's notoriously frequent economic crises.

Related keywords

The content you requested does not exist or is no longer available.