The Argentine Senate’s approval of President Javier Milei’s labor reform on February 12, 2026, represents a textbook case of capitalist counter-revolution in action—a desperate attempt by the ruling class to reverse the gains of the working class and restore the conditions of the 19th century. The 42-30 vote in favor of this neoliberal assault on workers’ rights, following a marathon 13-hour debate, reveals the naked class character of Argentine politics and the lengths to which the bourgeoisie will go to protect its interests.
The reform, which passed the Senate early Thursday, is nothing less than a frontal attack on the very foundations of the working-class movement. It introduces 12-hour workdays, restricts the right to strike, and places severe limits on union assemblies—all while allowing companies to fire workers with greater ease. These measures are not isolated policy changes; they are part of a broader strategy of capitalist restoration, aimed at dismantling the social gains won by the Argentine proletariat over decades of struggle.
From a Marxist perspective, this reform must be understood as a response to the crisis of capitalism itself. The Argentine bourgeoisie, facing mounting economic instability and the growing power of organized labor, has turned to the state as its primary weapon. By passing this legislation, the ruling class seeks to break the back of the working-class movement, weaken the unions, and restore the conditions of the 19th century, when workers were treated as mere commodities in the marketplace.
The fact that this reform was approved after a marathon 13-hour debate, with mass protests raging outside Congress, speaks volumes about the class struggle at play. The Argentine working class, through its unions and mass organizations, has put up a fierce resistance, but the ruling class has shown no hesitation in using the state apparatus to crush that resistance. This is a classic example of the state as an instrument of class rule—a tool used by the bourgeoisie to protect its interests against the proletariat.
The reform’s provisions are particularly insidious. By allowing 12-hour workdays, the government is effectively extending the working day without a corresponding increase in wages, a clear attempt to intensify exploitation. By restricting the right to strike, it seeks to deprive workers of their most powerful weapon in the class struggle. And by limiting union assemblies, it aims to fragment the working class and prevent the development of a unified, revolutionary movement.
This is not an isolated phenomenon. It is part of a global trend of capitalist counter-revolution, where the ruling class in various countries is using the state to roll back the gains of the working class and restore the conditions of the 19th century. From the United States to Europe to Latin America, the bourgeoisie is increasingly resorting to repressive measures to protect its interests, often with the support of imperialist powers.
The Argentine working class, however, has a long history of resistance. From the general strikes of the early 20th century to the mass mobilizations of the 1970s, Argentine workers have shown time and again their capacity to challenge the ruling class. The current struggle against Milei’s labor reform is the latest chapter in that history, and it is crucial that the working class remains vigilant and organized.
The passage of this reform is a setback, but it is not a defeat. The Argentine proletariat must continue to fight, using all available means—strikes, protests, and, ultimately, revolutionary action—to defend its rights and advance its interests. The bourgeoisie may have the state on its side, but the working class has the power of the masses, and that power cannot be ignored.
As Trotsky himself might have said, the struggle against capitalist counter-revolution is never easy, but it is necessary. The Argentine working class must draw lessons from this defeat and prepare for the next battle, knowing that the fight for socialism is a long and arduous one. The bourgeoisie may have won a temporary victory, but the working class will not rest until it has secured its rights and built a society based on equality and justice for all.