Politics · Other · 5 hrs ago
Milei government offers voluntary buyouts to cut 20,000 more public jobs
Argentina’s government has launched a buyout scheme targeting 20,000 public jobs as part of President Javier Milei’s push to reduce public spending.
The offer applies to eligible staff in the national government, with compensation based on factors including age and length of service.
Workers who take it must agree not to return to national public-sector jobs for eight years.
The government says reducing spending can help it cut taxes, while the ATE state-workers’ union says the scheme amounts to coercive dismissal.
ATE has called a protest against the scheme for Wednesday at the presidential residence in Olivos.
The plan follows more than 77,000 public-sector job cuts since Milei took office in December 2023.
Javier Milei’s government has launched a voluntary buyout scheme aimed at cutting 20,000 more public-sector jobs in Argentina.
The proposed cuts would add to more than 77,000 public-sector positions already eliminated during Milei’s presidency.
Eligible employees who take the offer will receive compensation and be barred from returning to national public-sector employment for eight years.
The government says the scheme is intended to reduce public spending, while the ATE state-workers’ union says it amounts to coercive dismissal and plans to protest.
- Who
- Argentina’s government, led by President Javier Milei, is offering the buyouts to eligible national public-sector employees.
- What
- The voluntary scheme aims to cut 20,000 jobs. Employees who accept will receive compensation and be barred from returning to public-sector employment for eight years.
- When
- Announced on October 19, 2026. One report says it will run from November 1 for a month; another says it will be open until November 30.
- Where
- Argentina’s national public administration.
- Why
- The government says it seeks to reduce public spending and continue cutting taxes.
Argentina’s government
ATE state-workers’ association
Purpose of the scheme
Argentina’s government
The government says it is seeking to reduce public spending and continue cutting taxes.
ATE state-workers’ association
ATE rejects the scheme and says it is coercive dismissal.
Impact on employees
Argentina’s government
The government is offering eligible employees compensation to leave their posts.
ATE state-workers’ association
ATE says employees face pressure to accept and describes the offer as a choice between signing or losing their jobs and health coverage.
The government announced the voluntary buyout scheme and published a decree establishing it.
The scheme is scheduled to begin, according to Estadão.
The scheme is scheduled to close, according to BFM Business.
ATE called a protest against the scheme, with Expansión reporting that it was planned outside the presidential residence at Olivos.
- Targeted cuts
- 20,000 public-sector jobs
- Previous cuts
- More than 77,000 positions during Milei’s presidency
- Re-entry restriction
- Eight years
- Existing job reductions
- 21% of national public-administration positions, according to figures released in September
- Proposed scheme start
- November 1, 2026, according to Estadão
4 sources
Argentina incentiva demissões de 20 mil empregados públicos
Argentina steps up drive to shrink public-sector workforce
Javier Milei ressort sa "tronçonneuse": après avoir déjà supprimé 21% des effectifs en trois ans, le gouvernement argentin annonce un plan de départs volontaires visant jusqu'à 20.000 fonctionnaires
El Gobierno de Milei planea recortar otros 20.000 empleos públicos en Argentina
What people are saying
We continue to look for ways to reduce public spending so we can keep cutting taxes
This is not voluntary redundancy, it is coercive dismissal. We totally reject this decree