Casino workers in Mar del Plata mobilized against the labor reform promoted by President Javier Milei’s Government as the bill was debated in the Argentine Senate.
The Asociación de Empleados de Casinos Nacional (AECN) led the demonstration, with the Asociación Gremial de Empleados de Administración, Maestranza y Servicios (AMS) joining the protest.
The proposed labor reform includes measures aimed at increasing labor market flexibility, modifying severance pay structures, expanding probationary periods and reducing litigation costs for employers. The government has framed the initiative as a tool to promote formal employment and attract investment, while unions argue it weakens worker protections.
AECN said: “We marched in Mar del Plata against the labor reform driven by the Milei Government, which is being debated today in the Senate. The organization and struggle of the labor movement are essential to put a stop to this model of hunger and cruelty.”
Marcos Labrador, President of AECN, framed the mobilization as part of a broader defense of workers’ rights beyond the casino sector’s ongoing wage dispute. The demonstration took place amid continued labor tensions in Buenos Aires Province casinos.
AMS, which recently authorized a province-wide strike within six days if wage demands are not addressed, confirmed its participation in the march.
AMS said: “We mobilized again and we will do so as many times as necessary. There is no wear when there is conviction. There is determination.”
The joint appearance of AECN and AMS reflects coordination between the two unions, which have previously aligned on protest schedules and labor measures. Their participation in the anti-reform march signals that casino workers are engaging both in sector-specific wage negotiations and in broader national labor policy debates.
The Senate approved Milei’s labor reform overnight with 42 votes in favor and 30 against, sending the bill to the Chamber of Deputies
