Casino workers in the province of Buenos Aires have formally requested that wage negotiations be reopened after months of salary erosion caused by inflation and declining industry revenues. The demand was submitted by the Asociación de Empleados de Casinos de Mar del Plata (AEC), which represents employees from the state-run and private gaming sectors.
In an official statement, the union emphasized that the current wage framework has become obsolete, as the last agreement failed to protect workers from the rising cost of living. “The loss of purchasing power is undeniable and indisputable,” said Marcos Labrador, general secretary of the AEC, who signed a formal request to the Ministry of Labour of the Province of Buenos Aires seeking an urgent review of the paritaria (collective wage agreement).
According to the union, casino employees have seen their real income reduced not only by inflation but also by the decline in variable pay components linked to gaming activity, such as productivity bonuses and performance-based incentives. With lower visitation levels and a weakened economy, those payments have dropped considerably, further affecting take-home pay.
The AEC’s letter argues that while workers understand the broader economic difficulties facing Argentina, the gaming sector deserves “a differentiated treatment” because of the dual structure of its salary system — a mix of fixed and variable components that makes it especially vulnerable to downturns in revenue.
Union leaders warned that the current wage agreement “no longer reflects reality” and called on the authorities to “restore the dignity of workers through fair and updated compensation.” They also pointed out that many employees have resorted to overtime or secondary jobs to compensate for the income shortfall.
The Ministry of Labour has yet to announce whether it will formally reopen the wage talks, but observers note that a revision could set a precedent for other entertainment and hospitality unions facing similar losses.
As inflation in Argentina continues to outpace salary adjustments, the casino workforce’s demand illustrates a wider trend: the growing pressure on regulated industries to rebalance labour agreements and protect incomes from the volatility of the national economy.
