Labour market under the meat grinder - Thousands queue at Buenos Aires slaughterhouse for handful of jobs as unemployment rises

"A massive queue of job seekers lined up at the premises of the refrigeration company, 'Cabana Don Theo', in the province of Buenos Aires on Wednesday hoping to secure a few available positions amid an increasingly difficult economic situation in Argentina. Footage shows people holding their printed resumes as they stand in long lines around the refrigeration factory, to be interviewed by employers on the premises. "All to find a job of any kind: cashier, butcher, poultry worker, whatever comes. (...) anything is good," said Demian, an unemployed person who attended the job interview. More than a thousand people approached the place despite the company having opened just a few dozen positions for tasks such as loading, cleaning, maintenance, and food processing. "The demand was incredible. It surprised us. Honestly, we are amazed. We thank the people. We have already interviewed almost 2000 people. We still have a whole block to go," commented Carolina, owner of the refrigeration company. According to data of the Argentine Integrated Pension System (SIPA), 304,322 jobs have been lost in both the country's public and private sectors in the last two years. According to INDEC national statistics bureau, Argentina's unemployment rose to 7.5% at the end of 2025 compared to 6.4% in the last quarter of 2024. The average wage has lost 9% of its purchasing power while pensions have also significantly fallen under President Javier Milei's economic programme, according to media reports. "

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