Argentina's UTEP warns of deepening social conflict as social salary is suspended

Marina Joski, a member of the national board of the Union of Workers of the Popular Economy (UTEP) in Argentina, said the suspension of the Complementary Social Salary (Volver al Trabajo) – a benefit that reached almost one million people – will deepen social conflict in the second half of the year. She criticized the national government for what she called a sustained attack on the popular economy, warned that the withdrawal of state support could fuel crime and drug activity in vulnerable neighborhoods, and announced that coordinated actions, including a mass protest on 7 August, are being prepared.

In Peru, the teachers' union SIMA, represented by secretary‑general Miguel Puescas, gave the government of President Keiko Fujimori a 100‑day deadline to fulfill campaign promises such as full CTS recognition, a salary increase equivalent to one UIT, a 30 % payment for class preparation, and raising the education budget to 6 % of GDP. The union warned of new protest actions and a possible nationwide strike if the demands are not met, with meetings scheduled for early August to assess the situation.