Argentine courts rule on labor exploitation and judicial misconduct

In separate legal developments in Argentina, judicial rulings have addressed labor exploitation and workplace misconduct.

A civil court ordered a local elderly care residence to pay more than 11 million pesos to a former geriatric assistant. The court found the employee had been subjected to exploitative conditions, including 12-hour night shifts from 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM, six days a week. This totaled approximately 60 hours per week, significantly exceeding the legal limit of 44 hours. The employer failed to pay overtime or salary differences and falsely claimed the employee worked standard daytime shifts. The judge based the ruling on witness testimony from former colleagues and the facility's failure to produce mandatory employee entry and exit logs.

In Entre Ríos, the Superior Tribunal of Justice upheld the removal of former labor judge Eduardo Elías Flores. Flores was originally dismissed in June 2023 by an impeachment jury for a systematic pattern of psychological workplace violence against staff. His defense attempted to overturn the dismissal, alleging violations of due process and questioning the evidence used. The Superior Tribunal rejected the appeal, affirming the jury's authority to determine the professional conduct and responsibility of judicial officials.