The Argentine Senate has approved a controversial amendment to the medical leave system that significantly reduces the wages of workers on sick leave, prompting a heated debate among lawmakers and citizens.
The Argentine minister of Deregulation, Federico Sturzenegger, has drawn attention to a new labor reform law aimed at reforming the healthcare leave system, which has become a focal point ahead of the March sessions of Congress. The proposed amendment, which has already received partial approval from the Senate, suggests substantial pay reductions for workers on medical leave—75% for involuntary illness and 50% for self-inflicted injuries. This change aims to address perceived abuses of the sick leave system in Argentina, positioning it as a necessary step for labor reform. Sturzenegger’s remarks, particularly his examples regarding sports injuries, have stirred controversy as critics argue they oversimplify the challenges faced by workers.
