Macri Takes Vacation After Passing Law Against Retirees

After approving the pension reform, strongly rejected by most Argentines because it harms the retirees, President Mauricio Macri will go on vacation for two weeks, with his family, to Villa La Angostura, south of Neuquén, where he will spend New Year's Eve, local media outlet Río Negro informed.

"The family usually spends time in the house, then have lunch together and the President eventually incorporates social activities either in the clubhouse or on the tennis court," the newspaper said.

"After winning the elections, how easy it would have been for me to go on vacation and not propose any reforms," the president said Tuesday after which he announced his "rest."

Macri has been criticized before for a large number of vacations he has taken since taking office in December 2015.

The announcement of the president's vacation occurs in the midst of social protests in Argentina against the labor, tax and social security reforms promoted by the government, which have been rejected with strong protests due to their negative impact on the population.

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The labor reform has been bitterly attacked because it provides broad benefits to employers so that they can hire and dismiss staff without inconvenience, a redefinition of the concept of "work". It further reduces the calculation of compensation, by subtracting the corresponding payments in bonuses, overtime and bonuses. Another point is the possible addition of working hours, which currently stand at eight and could reach ten.

The tax reform is rejected mainly because it reduces employers' contributions, with which it is intended to reduce the payment of employees to social security, as well as decrease corporate income tax and checks.

With pension reform, pensions and allowances would be indexed to match inflation, and not by the evolution of tax collection. The retirement age for men and women increases to 70 years. In addition, special allowances to retire before the official age would be eliminated from police, prisons, teachers, taxi drivers, rural laborers, workers in areas declared unhealthy, masons and bus drivers.