Buenos Aires, March 23 (NA) – With less than two weeks left before the deadline given by ANSES to its 12,262 employees to accept the voluntary retirement offer sent by email to each one, the agency's offices across the country are in a deliberative state. This is the first stage of a staff reduction plan, which the union representing them estimates will reach a total of 2,500 layoffs, according to an exclusive report by Agencia Noticias Argentinas. The initial hypothesis, put forward under the previous administration, was based on an internal survey indicating that there are 1,400 employees who have reached retirement age and the required contribution years, and 300 are on temporary contracts, which would sum up to 1,700 departures through forced retirement and non-renewal of these contracts. Speculation within the offices is that after this first stage of voluntary retirements, layoffs and the reorganization of areas will follow. According to sources in union circles, in this brief period, directors with little seniority and many professionals, especially in the interior of the country, who supplemented their ANSES job with private activities, have resigned, as have those known to be vulnerable due to high absenteeism, who are candidates for dismissal as soon as the unofficially announced stage of file evaluation begins. Absenteeism rates. The circulating threat is that with the already-passed labor reform, files of employees with 10 to 15 years of seniority will be closely examined to check each absenteeism rate and to directly dispatch a telegram to those who have taken advantage of medical licenses and other resources to shirk work obligations. Also targeted, according to office gossip, are those hired to handle benefits that are now suppressed, which included public service points across the country. They processed applications for retirement under the moratorium on contributions, and since that exceptional regime was discontinued, they have been almost inactive. The fear among employees is that they may be placed on availability, meaning sent to any public office, or that they will be fired directly. The freeze on wages since October 2024 and the fact that ANSES has its own collective bargaining agreement, which has also not been convened since then, constitute further pressures on their pockets to encourage an exit by "showing all the money at once," that is, settlements of over $100 million, payable in two installments. In reality, those who have done the math are not particularly motivated, as the offer includes a 60% replacement rate and does not recognize years beyond the 24-year seniority cap. Pension reform. The widespread presumption is that a pension reform is imminent and that the restructuring to be applied after the voluntary retirement deadline expires will go in that direction. For example, there are those over 65 and under 70 who contributed to the system but did not meet the 30 years required by law. Although they have more than 10 years with contributions, they do not meet the requirement for the old-age benefit (Law 24.241) of 70 years of age. Their only option is the Universal Pension for the Elderly (PUAM), which is without contributions and with which they will receive 80% of the minimum.
