Argentine Government to Renegotiate Over 100 Collective Bargaining Agreements

The Argentine government is preparing to initiate the renegotiation of more than 100 expired collective bargaining agreements, as the Secretariat of Labor analyzes convening unions and business chambers as early as this week. This move is underpinned by recent decrees that have granted the Secretariat increased authority in labor matters.

Government’s Push for Renegotiation

The Secretariat of Labor, under the direction of Julio Cordero, is reportedly considering a call to parties involved in over 100 sectors with expired agreements. This initiative is seen as a strategic step in the government’s broader plan to modify labor relations in Argentina, particularly in light of the recent decrees 407 and 408. These decrees, which came into effect last week, aim to decentralize collective bargaining, promote company-level agreements, and reduce contributions to unions. Juan Manuel Barca reports for Clarín that the regulations stipulate that the Secretariat of Labor must summon parties to renegotiate expired agreements within 30 days of the decree’s implementation.

Key Changes and Implications

A significant aspect of the impending renegotiations is the elimination of the “ultraactivity” of collective bargaining agreements. Previously, expired agreements remained in effect without requiring explicit ratification. However, the recent regulatory changes to Article 137 of the Labor Modernization Law now allow the Secretariat of Labor to call for negotiations on expired agreements for a period of one year. This effectively exposes a majority of sectors to review without automatic extension. While Law 27.802, promulgated in March, primarily addressed the cessation of ultraactivity for “obligational clauses” (those governing the relationship between companies and unions, like solidarity contributions), legal advisors for businesses suggest that employers may leverage this to renegotiate “normative clauses,” including working conditions and salaries.

Industry and Union Reactions

Within some business chambers, such as those in the Group of Six (UIA, Commerce, Construction, Banks, Rural Society, and Stock Exchange), there is an acknowledgment that the objective of these changes is to “negotiate agreements downwards” and to dismantle the financial structures of unions, particularly solidarity contributions. These contributions are viewed by the government as superfluous costs that strengthen unions as institutions. Conversely, legal advisors for the CGT and major unions describe the regulatory decree as “contradictory.” They believe that while there is pressure from certain business sectors, opening all agreements carries a significant risk of conflict. There is also discontent regarding the cap on worker deductions for solidarity contributions, which was limited to 2% of basic wages rather than the total remuneration.

The Government’s Rationale

The official strategy appears to be encouraging unions to discuss substantial changes, such as extending the workday to 12 hours, eliminating overtime pay in favor of hour banks, and linking salaries to productivity, all within a context of company closures. The government argues that this new framework is designed to stimulate formal employment, a goal that has not yet been achieved. Despite the approval of the Labor Bases Law in July 2024, which removed penalties for companies with unregistered employees, informal employment reached 43% by the end of 2025, affecting approximately 9 million workers. Over the past two years, private salaried employment has declined by over 200,000 positions, while unregistered employment has grown by 330,000.

Challenges in Decentralization

A key element of the government’s approach is the decentralization of collective bargaining, a strategy championed by Federico Sturzenegger. Alejandro Cacace, Secretary of Deregulation, has stated that Argentina’s labor system, inherited from Peronism and inspired by Italian fascism, featured single national agreements. The new system, however, aims to allow for agreements at provincial, regional, and company levels, which will take precedence. Article 5 of Decree 407 requires greater business representation, with a minimum of 10% of workers in the relevant scope, and allows for representation by jurisdiction in exceptional cases. This could lead to company-specific agreements if national-level negotiation is unfeasible, potentially weakening business chambers. Labor advisors express concern that this could be used to “fracture” national agreements and reduce union power. The Food Industry Union has already warned of potential legal challenges if their agreement is altered. Determining the precise number of affected workers and the territorial scope of these agreements is expected to be a significant challenge, as many companies are not affiliated with chambers or associations.

Datos clave
| Aspecto | Detalle |
|——————————–|————————————————————————-|
| Número de convenios a renegociar | Más de 100 |
| Motivo principal | Reglamentación de la reforma laboral (Decretos 407 y 408) |
| Objetivo del Gobierno | Descentralizar negociación, promover convenios por empresa, reducir aportes |
| Plazo para convocatoria | Dentro de los 30 días de entrada en vigencia del decreto |

This development is significant for FootballGames10 readers as it directly impacts the labor landscape in Argentina, a country with a strong football culture. Changes in employment conditions and union power could indirectly affect the economic stability of clubs, player contracts, and the overall professional football ecosystem within the nation.

Fuente: Clarín Deportes – https://www.clarin.com/economia/reforma-laboral-gobierno-cita-gremios-empresas-renegociar-100-convenios-colectivos_0_px3NOo5gcO.html

Datos clave