Argentina's Oilseed Union Weighs Strike Amid Labor Reform Push

Argentina's oilseed union, SOEA, is contemplating a strike against the government's proposed labor reform. Despite a government order to halt the protest, union leaders are still deciding. The reform package, pushed by President Javier Milei, has sparked controversy and faces significant hurdles in the Senate.

Argentina's oilseed union SOEA was still considering starting a strike against the government's proposed labor reform, it said on Wednesday, after the government called on it to back off from protesting. The SOEA in northern Rosario, Argentina's main agricultural exports hub, said last week that it would begin a strike as soon as the Senate began debating a major package of reform pushed by libertarian president Javier Milei, which includes changes to some labor regulations.

However, the union received an order from the government on Tuesday to not begin the protest, union secretary Martin Morales said on Wednesday. As of Wednesday midday, union leaders were "evaluating whether to comply or not," SOEA secretary general Daniel Succi said, adding that the strike had not yet begun.

Argentina is a major world supplier of processed soybeans. Revenue from grains shipments are a major source of the foreign currency needed to pay down debt and finance imports for the cash-strapped government during a prolonged economic slide. SOEA carried out a strike of about 24 hours in April against Milei's reform package while it was being debated in the lower house of Congress, where it was later approved.

The reform package faces tougher odds in the Senate. More than 80% of Argentina's processed soybeans, corn, wheat and other farm products are shipped to global markets from the Rosario hub.