The Argentine Mining Workers’ Union (AOMA) has reached a new wage agreement with the Argentine Chamber of Mining Companies (CAEM), establishing a cumulative 8% increase in base salaries for the extractive segment. The adjustment will be applied in two stages: 4% in March and 4% in April.
By Panorama Minero
The agreement was negotiated by AOMA Secretary General Héctor Laplace and CAEM Executive Director Alejandra Cardona. The salary increase targets workers in the extractive branch, currently facing declining employment levels within Argentina’s mining sector.
AOMA’s objective is to cushion the effects of inflation and the erosion of purchasing power. However, the deal comes amid financial strain for many small and medium-sized mining companies. Over the past year, 99 mining firms ceased operations, representing an 8.7% drop in the total number of active companies.
Official data from the Secretariat of Mining confirm this trend: the sector lost 2,060 formal jobs between November 2023 and 2024, a 5% year-on-year decrease. Total mining employment fell to 39,288—the lowest level in five years. Activities related to industrial minerals, such as limestone, aggregates, and granite, experienced an 11.4% year-on-year decline, while non-metallic mineral production dropped by 1.4%.
The national report also reveals that just ten metal mining companies account for 84% of total employment in that segment. Meanwhile, lithium exploration and financing stood out as the only area to record job growth, with a 28.1% year-on-year increase in employment.
Regarding gender inclusion, 4,963 women were employed in mining as of November 2024, reflecting a modest 1% increase from the previous year. The highest female participation is found in lithium exploration and financing, where women represent over 23% of the workforce.
