Argentina's lower house passes labor reform, sends to Senate for final vote

Members of Argentina's Senate attend a session to discuss labor reforms proposed by President Javier Milei's libertarian government to attract investment and revive growth, as unions say it would roll back workers' rights, in Buenos Aires, Argentina February 12, 2026. REUTERS/Cristina Sille

BUENOS AIRES, ⁠Feb 20 (Reuters) - Argentina’s ⁠lower house of Congress ‌early on Friday approved a contentious labor reform bill backed ​by libertarian President ⁠Javier Milei ⁠even after unions opposing the ⁠changes ‌staged a nationwide strike that ⁠brought parts of the country ​to ‌a halt.

The bill, which ⁠was ​passed last week by the Senate, was ⁠approved with 135 votes ​in favor and 115 against. After going through ⁠some modifications, it will go back to the Senate for a final ​vote before ⁠it can become law.

(Reporting ​by Nicolas ‌Misculin; Writing by ​Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)