Argentina women's networks address labor gaps and care policy cuts

In Argentina, women's organizations are mobilizing to address growing economic and social disparities. The VEGA network, led by Fabiana Menna, President of the Rural Women's Network, aims to increase female participation in decision-making roles and strategic industries. Menna noted that women currently represent only 11% to 12% of the workforce in expanding sectors such as mining and hydrocarbon extraction in Vaca Muerta.

Simultaneously, economist Lucía Cirmi has raised alarms regarding the dismantling of national care policies. According to Cirmi, 48 out of 50 national care policies have been deactivated or significantly reduced under the current administration. This includes cuts to PAMI subsidies for caregivers, the closure of child development centers, and a reduction in Progresar scholarships from 1.8 million to 950,000 beneficiaries.

Cirmi is promoting the National Agreement for Care (Acuerdo Nacional por los Cuidados) to address this emergency, noting that when state support vanishes, the responsibility typically falls on women within families to fill the void.