The tense debate started past noon on Wednesday, while a massive demonstration, organized by the country’s leading labor unions, took place at Buenos Aires’ Avenida de Mayo and Plaza de los Dos Congresos, demanding that the proposal be rejected because it violates labor rights and creates precarious working conditions.

Legislative sources said the ruling party introduced new last-minute modifications and is nearing approval of the labor reform in the Senate.

They mentioned, among these changes, that union funds would once again have automatic contributions, and there would be a key change in the Buenos Aires City judiciary.

The Executive needs more than 36 affirmative votes to achieve preliminary approval in the 72-seat upper house.

Patricia Bullrich, head of the ruling party’s bloc, stated that they have the support of 40 legislators, including members and allies.

The demonstration, which began mid-morning on Wednesday, proceeded peacefully until five hooded individuals, according to images analyzed by local television commentators, threw Molotov cocktails at the impressive police deployment of more than 4,500 officers, who unleashed a brutal crackdown.

Buenos Aires Province Governor and leading opposition figure, Axel Kicillof, participated in the massive march and told reporters that the proposal from Javier Milei’s administration represents a return to old policies of precarious employment and the erosion of labor rights.

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