2024-02-17 14:06:43
On a day that was expected to define the new Minimum Living and Mobile Wage (SMVM) as well as the limits of unemployment benefits, the Executive Branch, the business chambers and the union representatives failed to reach a consensus at the meeting of the Salary Council . Given this lack of agreement, the Government will make the final decision on these aspects.
The General Confederation of Labor (CGT) and the two confederations of the Central Workers of Argentina (CTA) requested to establish a salary floor of 288,600 pesos starting in February, a proposal that did not obtain the necessary support.
The CGT accused the Government of Javier Miley to boycott the meeting with the intention of avoiding any agreement on the minimum wage, currently set at 156,000 pesos. The CGT proposal, supported by the three union centers, consisted of an 85% increase over the last amount, thus establishing the aforementioned floor.
Given the lack of consensus, the Government will issue a decree in the next three days to determine the new amount of the Minimum Wage. This decision generated criticism from union organizations, who denounce the lack of social commitment on the part of the Government and the interruption of the tripartite dialogue characteristic of the Wage Council.
On the other hand, the Confederation of Workers of Autonomous Argentina (CTAA) pointed out that the business sector did not present a specific proposal, limiting itself to requesting an increase starting in March without specifying amounts or percentages. This situation, according to the CTAA, led the Government to make the unilateral decision.
The meeting, which included the participation of government, union and business representatives, was held virtually at the Ministry of Labor. However, the absence of an agreement has revealed the differences between the parties and has generated uncertainty regarding the future of minimum incomes in the country.
In this context, while the issue of the minimum wage was being clarified, social organizations carried out a protest demanding increases in community food assistance, thus evidencing the complexity of the social situation in the country.