# Labor dispute at Calcatreu mining project

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/labor-dispute-at-calcatreu-mining-project
> Updated: 2026-08-25T22:15:20.000Z. Sources: 48. Developments: 2.

Labor disputes have emerged at the Calcatreu mining project in Río Negro, Argentina, regarding local hiring practices. Labor representatives, including delegates from UOCRA, have criticized the operator for allegedly ignoring requests to prioritize workers from Ingeniero Jacobacci and neighboring Mapuche communities.

In response to these concerns and alleged non-compliance with Provincial Law 5.804—which requires 80% of the workforce to be local residents—the Río Negro government maintained a partial suspension of activities at the site. While Patagonia Gold claimed 75% of its 233 direct employees were provincial residents, the Secretary of Labor, María Martha Avilez, stated compliance was only at 71%. The company attributed the shortfall to a lack of specific mining experience among local residents.

The impasse has since been resolved through a new agreement between the Río Negro government and Patagonia Gold to reactivate the mine. Under the terms of the settlement, the company has committed to incorporating approximately 30 local workers and providing training for an additional 30 individuals. To support this, Patagonia Gold will fund training programs costing up to 2 million pesos per participant. The agreement also includes regularizing safety and hygiene standards and reactivating a local working group that includes the Peñi Mapu community to ensure compliance with labor regulations and support regional economic development.

## Claims

- The partial suspension of activities at Calcatreu will remain until the company complies with the law. (single source)
- Provincial Law 5.804 requires that 80% of the workforce be local. (single source)
- Patagonia Gold claims that 75% of its 233 direct employees are from Río Negro. (single source)
- The company's local hiring compliance is currently at 71% according to the Labor Secretariat. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-25: Alfredo Pacheco and Fuerza del Pueblo spokesperson clash in Dominican Chamber

Dominican Republic's Chamber of Deputies Speaker Alfredo Pacheco and Fuerza del Pueblo spokesperson José David Báez engaged in a heated dispute over legislative commission restructuring, leading to an FP walk-。

47 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ro-negro-maintains-suspension-of-patagonia-golds-calcatreu-project

### 2026-08-21: Labor unions demand local hiring at Calcatreu project

UOCRA representatives in Río Negro are demanding that the Calcatreu project prioritize hiring local workers and Mapuche community members over outside personnel.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/labor-unions-demand-local-hiring-at-calcatreu-project

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Cite as: Labor dispute at Calcatreu mining project. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/labor-dispute-at-calcatreu-mining-project