In the Base Law that yesterday he obtained a half sanction in the Chamber of Deputies important changes were included for the agricultural work. On the one hand, Flexibility was incorporated for the hiring of rural workers through job boards run by unions and, on the other hand, it included the six month trial period for permanent workers, but not for temporary ones. Both measures were rejected by the Argentine Union of Rural Workers and Stevedores (Uatre).
In accordance with the new article 95 for the activity, union job boards may continue to propose lists of personnel for temporary jobs in activities in the sector. However, employers will not be obliged to hire those proposed, but will be free to choose between them or any other person.
“The job boards run by the union associations of workers with union status may propose to employers a list of the personnel necessary to carry out temporary tasks in the activities contemplated in this Law, in accordance with the resolutions issued for this purpose by the Agrarian Work Commission”, states the regulations and adds: “The employer may hire the suggested person and/or any other person he/she has available.”.
It should be noted that, when this modification was included for the first time in the megaDNU signed by the president Javier Milei, was well received by agricultural producers. In dialogue with THE NATION, They celebrated the new “freedom” when hiring personnel for temporary tasks, such as extracting grain from silobags. Furthermore, they pointed out that it represents a relief from the pressures that, on various occasions, they claim to have received from union members.
Previously the regulations established: “The job boards run by the union associations of workers with union status will provide employers with the necessary personnel to carry out the temporary tasks in the activities contemplated in this law, in accordance with the resolutions issued for this purpose by the National Commission. of Agrarian Labor (CNTA)”. Among these tasks were the handling and storage of cereals, loading and unloading of oilseeds and fertilizers.
The new law also incorporates a six-month trial period for workers included in the Agrarian Work Regime.. This was established in article 16 of the new standard, which establishes: “Permanent agricultural work contract for continuous provision. The agricultural employment contract will be understood to be concluded on a permanent basis and as a continuous provision, except in the cases expressly provided for by this law. Its extinction will be governed by the provisions of Title XII of Law 20,744 (to 1976) and its amendments. For indefinite-term workers in the agricultural sector, the provisions regarding the trial period in article 92 bis of law 20,744 will apply.
In this framework, the owner of the Uatre, José Voytenco, rejected both Labor Reform measures included in the Base Law. “It deepens black labor, slave labor and child labor,” he said and added: “It is a setback in many of the rights that workers have achieved with effort and sacrifice to improve the lives of our families.”
Meanwhile, particularly regarding work in agricultural activity, he argued: “Leave the land free by granting a six-month trial period, since it generates a strong negative impact due to the characteristics of our activity; “It destroys job markets and allows the proliferation of cooperatives that will take advantage of outsourcing with the consequent labor exploitation.”
“We oppose the Labor Termination Fund that will serve as an instrument for workers to lose their won rights. It is key in this panorama to focus now on the agenda of the senators so that the Law does not pass,” said the union member.
The union member also indicated that the rural sector is not in crisis: “We are in a good moment from production and the field. Our activity generates very important resources for the country, but for workers it is a negative moment due to low salaries, the increase in black labor and job insecurity. The inspections in different regional economies throughout the country reveal the most inhumane labor exploitation and the cruelest child labor,” he indicated.
For the deputy Luis Picat (UCR-Córdoba), Voytenco “misinterpreted” the spirit of the law. “First, no worker’s right has been violated, nothing of the collective agreement and neither have the laws that oblige the State to supervise and the tools to sanction and suspend companies or close them been removed,” said.
Regarding the trial period, the national deputy pointed out that the leader is “confused” because it applies only to permanent workers and not to those with temporary contracts. Regarding job boards, he highlighted that this provision is “positive” since it grants freedom to companies by allowing them to hire independently instead of forcing them exclusively to hire workers from the labor pool run by the union.
