In Argentina, government workers who lost their jobs have joined the latest protests against economic reforms imposed by President Javier Milei. Critics say the cutbacks have forced poverty levels to soar to almost 60 percent.

Buenos Aires

In Argentina, a series of protests have erupted, led by government workers who have recently been laid off. These demonstrations are a direct response to economic reforms introduced by President Javier Milei. Critics of these reforms attribute a significant rise in poverty levels, which they claim have escalated to nearly 60 percent, to the cutbacks enforced by these policies.

The mobilization of laid-off government employees highlights the growing discontent among the Argentine population towards the current administration's economic strategies. The layoffs and subsequent protests underscore the tension between the government's efforts to implement fiscal reforms and the societal impact of such policies, particularly in terms of employment and poverty rates.



Laid off government workers protest Milei's reforms in Argentina

Some of the many state employees in Argentina who've lost their jobs following deep cuts in government spending. The cutbacks are part of the president's plan to end triple-digit inflation. In protest, they've occupied the Ministry of Labor in the capital, Buenos Aires. There are enough reasons for the central unions to discuss a national strike and demand a change to this government. President Javier Mele took office in December with a plan to take a chainsaw to government expenditure. But the overturning of decades of economic policy and IMF bailouts has resulted in rising levels of poverty, now up to 60 percent. We have some containers in the back where the rubbish is disposed of. When we go there with a rubbish bin, about 20 people approach us to see what they can take. They're looking for something to take home. This is very tough and sad because it's a lot of people, especially older people. Government statistics show inflation slowing month by month, but prices are still 270 percent higher than they were last year. With such high prices, unemployment often guarantees poverty. The social safety net is weakening in terms of food. There's a recession, there's stagnation, and there's no longer enough work to compensate for the price increases. It's leading to a lot of poverty. Mele says that severe hardship is an unavoidable part of his plan to remedy government waste that contributed to inflation. And public sector employees can find new jobs in a private sector he says will be revitalized by his policies. But it's unclear how long it will be before those jobs are created. Wilson Dizard, Al Jazeera.

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