Social unrest and service deficiencies in Catamarca

Social unrest and dissatisfaction with public services have intensified in Catamarca, Argentina.

Initially, pensioner organizations organized a march as part of a National Day of Struggle. Protesters demanded an emergency increase in pensions, the restitution of free medications, and the passage of a new pension moratorium law. They also called for an end to the intervention of PAMI and ANSES, seeking greater control by retirees and workers.

Following these demonstrations, public dissatisfaction expanded to include grievances regarding infrastructure and essential services. Educational communities reported deteriorating school facilities, including issues with running water, lighting, and broken windows. Simultaneously, healthcare professionals at San Juan Bautista Hospital described emergency departments as “overwhelmed and unprotected,” citing a critical shortage of mental health beds and on-call psychiatrists.

Economic instability has further impacted the province, specifically within the industrial sector. The company Indumentaria Catamarca (ICSA) recently faced potential closure, though it narrowly avoided shutdown following negotiations with Governor Raúl Jalil. The provincial government has committed to exploring support mechanisms, such as tax benefits or financial assistance, to address high logistics costs and help the firm maintain approximately 30 jobs.