Buenos Aires, December 18 (NA) — La Libertad Avanza coalition suffered a major setback on Thursday, having to postpone the debate on the labor reform until February 10. The reason was the lack of support from dialogist blocs to approve the government's key initiative before the end of the year.
The decision was communicated by the head of the LLA bloc, Patricia Bullrich, after confirming that she had secured the majority opinion in the joint plenary session of the Labor and Social Security and Budget and Finance commissions. Bullrich also announced that the government will call an extraordinary session between February 1 and 27, where it will seek to approve the labor reform in the Senate and changes to the Glaciers Law.
The former Security Minister made the announcement of the postponement after a meeting at the Government House with the Chief of Staff, Manuel Adorni; the Ministers of the Interior, Diego Santilli, and of Economy, Luis Caputo; and the advisor Santiago Caputo.
The majority opinion was signed by 20 senators across the two commissions, as it garnered 11 signatures in the Budget commission and 9 in the Labor commission, provided by libertarians, radicals, the PRO, and provincial blocs from Tucumán and Corrientes. The majority opinion was signed by allies in partial dissent, meaning the ruling bloc will have to conduct negotiations to reach the agreements needed to sanction this initiative.
Opinion
Although the opinion included some changes requested by SMEs and banks, most blocs are demanding reforms to the financing of the Labor Assistance Fund, so that it is not covered by contributions that should be directed to ANSES.
Among the included changes is the possibility of paying compensation in SMEs in 18 installments, and it was established that salaries will only be paid in national or foreign currency, as confirmed by the Argentine News Agency.
The CGT took credit for the delays in the treatment of the labor reform: 'The demonstration showed the rejection.'
Another point is related to ultraactivity agreements, and it was decided that the standard clauses will be maintained for one year (labor conditions), but not the obligations, which are the solidarity contributions that many companies make to business chambers and unions.
Claims
During the meeting, which proceeded harmoniously — unlike the fights that took place on Wednesday — the president of the 'Popular' interblock, José Mayans, again demanded that the corresponding members be granted, as he claims seven seats but was given five.
For this reason, the opposition peronist interblock is still not part of the commissions, although it participated to express its rejection of the express treatment sought by the ruling bloc.
The commission plenary received various speakers from companies, the Judiciary, banks, platform workers, and the Sipreba union on Thursday, which expressed its rejection of the elimination of the Statute of the Journalist.
