In Argentina, trade unions and media organizations have protested against a labor reform bill, which they believe will deliver a devastating blow to culture and communication. The Argentine Forum of Community Radios (FARCO) called the decision 'a measure that annihilates cultural and communication promotion' and 'a death blow to expressions and tools that guarantee democracy'. Specifically, the bill proposes to repeal Article 196, which would annul Title V of the Audiovisual Communication Services Law and subsection a) of Article 136. The Argentine Federation of Press Workers (FATPREN) and the Buenos Aires Press Workers' Union (SiPreBA) warned that this reform 'seeks to erase a century of workers' rights'. They claim that President Javier Milei's government is trying to overnight, without any debate, repeal the Professional Journalist Statute and the Administrative Employee Statute of Press Companies. Furthermore, the bill proposes to repeal articles of the Audiovisual Communication Services Law, which would eliminate the levies on audiovisual signals that sustain public, community, and small media outlets. According to the protesters, this decision will harm national film production and the federal structure of the country. They stated they will defend their rights before Congress, the judiciary, and in the streets.
