Argentina: Metal workers protest against huge job cuts

February 20, 2017
Issue 
Buenos Aires, February 14.

Members of the Argentine Metal Workers’ Union (UOM) marched to the Ministry of Labour in Buenos Aires on February 14 in protest of thousands of jobs cut from electronics manufacturing companies.

The cuts came after a government decision to eliminate a 35% tax on computer imports.

Protesters gathered in front of the National Congress of Argentina before marching to the offices of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, with many banging drums and waving flags.

Other unions also took part in the demonstration.

“Last year, we had 9000 colleagues who were unemployed and 15,000 colleagues who are suspended and we do not know what can happen to those colleagues now when they have to reintegrate into their jobs in March, if they are going to have work or if they are not going to have a job,” said UOM Secretary General Antonio Calo.

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