ARGENTINA’S union federation the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) has called for a nationwide general strike on January 24 against neoliberal President Javier Milei’s sweeping cuts and privatisation plans.

The seven-million-strong CGT’s general secretary Hector Daer said the strike would defy a package of Bills announced by Mr Milei, which “go against all society” and give the president “all public power.”

Mr Milei, who took office on December 10, has retreated from some campaign promises such as abolishing Argentina’s peso and adopting the dollar. But much of his “anarcho-capitalist” agenda remains intact, including selling off publicly owned firms, scrapping more than 350 economic regulations, ditching price controls, banning strikes and introducing tuition fees for university.

“This decree attacks the individual rights of workers, collective rights, a universal and united health system, and an incalculable number of subjects that constitute our country,” Mr Daer said.

Mr Milei has presented the Argentinian Congress with a 350-page “omnibus Bill” containing over 600 distinct measures and enhancing his own powers through a two-year declaration of emergency. 

Argentina’s deep economic crises has worsened since he was elected, with China — a country he has repeatedly insulted — cancelling a credit “swapline” that had so far been essential to its ability to repay a huge IMF loan taken out by the last right-wing president Mauricio Macri.

Facing rising protests, Milei's government has warned demonstrators they will lose their right to social assistance and will be billed for the cost of policing protests.

The strike will also test the hard-line approach of Security Minister Patricia Bullrich, who has announced a series of measures to limit protests and street blockades carried out without a permit.