A nationwide strike swept across Argentina on Thursday, April 10, as workers voiced strong opposition to President Javier Milei’s sweeping austerity agenda, which has sparked widespread public frustration since his administration began in December 2023.
Now in its third iteration under Milei’s leadership, the general strike paralysed large parts of the country. Public transport networks, including trains, taxis, and domestic flights, were brought to a halt, while port operations were shut down. Key services such as banking, postal deliveries, and waste collection were also heavily affected.
The Argentine leader, known for his libertarian stance, has rolled out an aggressive economic overhaul aimed at stabilising the country’s heavily indebted economy. His policies include large-scale public sector job cuts, removal of subsidies, and ending the practice of financing state spending through money creation, which has helped slow inflation and achieve a budget surplus.
However, despite signs of fiscal improvement, many citizens continue to face financial hardship as the cost of living rises. Andrés Rodríguez of the CGT trade union federation told Radio Rivadavia that “people are unhappy because salaries no longer last through the month.”
Retirees have been particularly impacted by the reforms, with pension increases failing to match inflation. Around 70% of pensioners receive only the minimum payout of roughly $320 per month, while average monthly living expenses in Argentina are estimated at about $1,100.