Protests took place at various points across the country, including the Paz y Ruta 3 intersection in La Matanza, as well as the Saavedra and Pueyrredón bridges, to demonstrate against the closure of the 'Volver al Trabajo' (Back to Work) program. A few days ago, through the Ministry of Human Capital, the official government announced that the last day for receiving benefits under this program would be April 7th. They justified the measure by stating it aligns with the objective set by Sandra Pettovello's ministry from the beginning of the administration: 'to prioritize formal labor insertion' and 'eliminate intermediation in social plans.' 'Social movements, picketer organizations, and worker cooperatives denounce once again that the government of (Javier) Milei is taking a chainsaw to the poorest and most precarious workers in the country. Soup kitchens, community dining halls, early childhood centers, health clinics, educational spaces, and support centers for people facing substance abuse and violence are sustained by this salary,' the groups present at the mobilization stated. The termination of this program affected more than 950,000 workers performing essential tasks in popular neighborhoods nationwide, who receive a 'frozen since December 2023' Social Supplementary Salary of 78,000 pesos. The same applies to those engaged in textile production, recycling, street vending, and indigenous family farming. In each district, municipal tasks such as street and plaza cleaning, repairs, and small infrastructure projects are also carried out, 'complemented' by this salary. 'You can't hide the sun with your hands; the National Government is trying to manipulate statistics to lie about the real situation of millions of Argentines who, day by day, are falling into poverty and debt. False figures that do not reflect the sustained drop in meat and dairy consumption. In the context of a recession and inflation, the end of 'Back to Work' comes as mass layoffs and the closure of new job opportunities are commonplace,' they concluded.
Argentines Protest Against Social Program Cancellation
Social movements and organizations across Argentina protested the closure of the 'Back to Work' program, which affected over 950,000 of the country's poorest workers. Protesters accuse the government of statistical manipulation and worsening the nation's economic crisis.
