Argentina said Wednesday that it had cut 15,000 state jobs as part of President Javier Milei’s aggressive campaign to slash spending, the latest in a series of painful economic measures that have put the libertarian government on a collision course with angry protesters and powerful trade unions.

Argentina Cuts 15,000 State Jobs Amid Economic Shake-up

Job Cuts and Protests

Presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni announced the job cuts in a news conference, portraying them as key to Milei’s promised shake-up of Argentina’s bloated public sector.

“It’s part of the work we are doing to reduce state expenses,” he told reporters, describing the dismissed workers as a drag on taxpayers.

Hundreds of defiant employees stormed their workplaces in Buenos Aires and nearby cities, beating drums, decrying their dismissal as unjust, and demanding their reinstatement.

Impact on Workers

Workers at ministries that Mileli has vowed to close, such as the National Institute Against Discrimination, along with a range of state agencies, received the latest layoff notices.

“These layoffs have a face, they have a family, they have real needs in this context of great change and great poverty in Argentina,” said Mercedes Cabezas, a secretary-general of ATE, outside the Ministry of Labor.

Milei campaigned for president while promising to fix Argentina’s long-troubled economy by chopping down the size of the state. However, these measures have led to increased inflation, making it harder for struggling Argentines to make ends meet.

Consider the Context

The confrontations between the government and protesters could derail Milei's push to achieve a zero budget deficit by the year's end.