The Secretary of International Relations of the CGT, Gerardo Martínez, participated in a conference where he expressed his concern about the "intense adjustment" in Argentina and advocated for a path of "growth with social inclusion." Martínez was part of the meeting as a member of the High-Level Group of the International Trade Union Confederation, held in Washington with the presence of the head of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, and representatives of the World Bank.
In his intervention, Martínez highlighted that the political and economic changes in Argentina generate expectations in international forums. He pointed out that the Argentine government has prioritized fiscal balance and exchange rate stability to reduce inflation, but criticized that the economic adjustment has affected sectors such as pensions, public works, subsidies, and public wages.
The union leader emphasized the need for binding dialogue and respect for work as pillars to organize the economy in pursuit of development, production, and employment. He noted that the extreme measures applied have caused a crisis in industrial activity and have precarized employment, affecting social protection and the quality of available work.
Martínez warned Georgieva about the consequences of the adjustment and questioned the viability of the measures in the medium term for labor and productive sectors. He stressed the importance of ensuring growth with social inclusion, avoiding that the burden of the adjustment falls unjustly on working families and vulnerable groups.
At the end of his presentation, the Secretary of International Relations of the CGT raised the need for the IMF to contribute to effective social dialogue that takes into account the perspective of workers. He urged that recovery and growth in Argentina be compatible with decent work, social justice, sustainable development, and respect for fundamental human rights.
