LatinNews Daily - 17 September 2024

*Argentina’s government led by President Javier Milei has published decrees declaring that commercial aviation is an “essential service” and obliging staff in the aviation sector to maintain a minimum level of service even during strikes. The government deems 50% of regular service to be the minimum level. The decrees also require workers planning to carry out strikes to inform authorities at least five days before the strike date. The decree comes amid rising tensions between the government and workers from the state airline Aerolíneas Argentinas, who have recently carried out strikes demanding better pay. Their latest strike on 13 September resulted in hundreds of flights being cancelled, affecting thousands of passengers nationwide. Pablo Biró, the leader of the pilots’ union Asociación de Pilotos de Líneas Aéreas (Apla), one of the unions organising the Aerolíneas Argentinas strikes, has been cited in the press as criticising the decrees and suggested that the government's restrictions infringe upon the right to strike, which is defended by authorities such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).