General strike closes government offices

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? A 24-hour general strike called by the country’s largest union confederation shut down public services Monday.

What does the change mean? The shutdown has affected public transportation, airports, schools, banks and government offices including immigration services. Applicants should anticipate slowdowns and a possible backlog as offices reopen Tuesday.

• Implementation time frame: Immediate.
• Visas/permits affected: All services, including immigration-related services, at public offices, as well as at airports and transportation systems.
• Impact on processing times: Applicants should anticipate delays caused by the strike.
• Business impact: Business schedules and travel arrangements may need to be adjusted.

Background: The general strike was called to protest the economic austerity policies of President Mauricio Macri and plans to accept loans from the International Monetary Fund, which would require the country to make more cutbacks to the public sector.

BAL Analysis: The strike has frozen most public services and affected tens of thousands of airline passengers. Business travelers and immigration applicants should anticipate potential delays as the workers resume work Tuesday.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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