Members of the government have been taking part in extraordinary sessions set to last until January 31 to discuss the hundreds of economic reforms Milei hopes to pass. If both houses of Congress fail to do away with the decree, it will take effect shortly.
Footage of the protest in the Argentine capital shows over 8,000 people standing in solidarity with labor organizations and human rights groups, chanting and waving signs expressing a desire to see the government do more to protect workers' rights.
In an interview with France24, leftist leader and protest participant Eduardo Belliboni claimed there was "a violation of workers' fundamental rights in Argentina," namely that "workers are suffering from wage cuts by a government that seeks to benefit big business owners."
According to the outlet, annual inflation has reached 160 percent, with 40 percent of citizens living in poverty, stats that Milei has argued will only improve with policies that will make things worse before getting the nation back on the right track.
Argentina's largest union, the General Confederation of Labor, was one of the major organizers of the event. As El País reports, GCT Secretary Héctor Daer made it very clear that "the goal is for the [decree] not to continue."
According to Reuters, on Thursday the group announced calls for a national strike, set to take place on January 24. In the meantime, it, alongside other unions, would be requesting meetings with members of Congress to propose amendments to the legislation.
Milei's plan would alter or do away with over 350 regulations, namely those that involve spending by the state or government control over the economy. He is seeking, for example, to privatize a number of public companies, terminate 7,000 civil service contracts, and make it harder for workers to strike.
