INGO urges Argentina to ensure pensions for the elderly under international law – JURIST

Amnesty International urged the Argentinian government on Friday to guarantee adequate living standards and pensions for elderly people following the government’s refusal to extend the pension moratorium that expired last week.

Amnesty noted in its press release that the government’s failure to act would directly harm older people and violate their rights under international law, which would result in older people needing to work beyond age 65, and would “[force them] to alternatives that do not cover the cost of basic need.” Amnesty further noted that failure to guarantee adequate living conditions would disproportionately affect women.

Article 9 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)—ratified by Argentina—requires state parties to “recognize the right of everyone to social security, including social insurance,” while Article 11 obligates state parties to “recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family.”

In 2023, the National Congress passed Law 27705, offering pension moratoriums to individuals who were unable to contribute 30 years of social security payments to the government. The two-year payment plans sought to help people pay security debts that would enable them to access guaranteed pensions upon retiring. The law was created to reduce informal labor inequalities that currently account for more than 47% of the labor market. According to Human Rights Watch, more than 30% of workers and almost three out of four domestic laborers work in the informal labor market with no protections—almost all of whom are women and girls.

Pensioners took to the streets in protest following the government’s announcement to decline extending moratoriums. Many protests erupted into violent clashes with police, leaving several protesters and police officers injured. The protests were joined by young people and fans of the country’s biggest football clubs, Boca Juniors and River Plate.