• The Asociacion Trabajadores del Estado (ATE) public workers’ union has called for a protest at Ministerio de Capital Humano (Ministry of Human Capital) located on Carlos Pellegrini 1285 in Buenos Aires city at 13:00 (local time) on February 20.  
• Further, unconfirmed reports indicate that the protesters will first convene at the Carlos Pellegrini 1285 and then march to Minister of Human Capital Sandra Pettovello’s offices in downtown Buenos Aires. 
• The protest is being held to denounce the restructuring of the Ministry of Human Capital and the potential resultant layoffs of workers, including approximately 2,800 employees whose contracts expire on February 28. 

1. The restructuring of the Ministerio de Capital Humano aligns with President Javier Milei’s ongoing attempts to streamline government operations and address internal management issues. As per February 19 reports, 28 officials from the Human Capital area have resigned or been displaced by the Executive over the last 450 days. On December 18, 2024, ATE-affiliated activists held a protest outside the Ministerio de Justicia y Derechos Humanos in Buenos Aires to denounce new dismissals of state workers. It drew an attendance in the high-hundreds to low-thousands and transpired peacefully.  
2. FORECAST: Based on precedent of ATE-led protest, the upcoming protest is expected to draw a participation in the high hundreds. The protest is expected to transpire largely peacefully. However, with heightened tensions over worker layoffs, there is a latent risk of localized scuffles between protesters and security forces. Regardless, given the protest location being an official institution, a bolstered security presence is anticipated at the Ministerio de Capital Humano to monitor proceedings and manage traffic. If protests escalate into disruptions or breaching of security perimeters, security personnel are expected to resort to deploying tear gas or conduct mass arrests to disperse the protesters. Additionally, localized disruptions to vehicular and pedestrian traffic near the Ministerio de Capital Humano can be expected from the afternoon hours onward on February 20. 

Those operating or residing in Buenos Aires city on February 20 are advised to allot for disruptions to vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the vicinity of Ministerio de Capital Humano on 1285 Carlos Pellegrini due to the slated protest.