Hundreds gather to pray for work as unemployment rises under Milei

Hundreds of people gathered in Buenos Aires on Friday, August 7, to pray for work in the face of rising unemployment under President Javier Milei's administration. The annual pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of San Cayetano, patron saint of workers and the unemployed, saw thousands of Argentines join a long queue outside the church on a freezing morning.

Pilgrims, many carrying wheat stalks as a tradition dating back nearly a century, expressed their gratitude for their jobs and prayed for those who were struggling to find employment.

Karina, a woman waiting in the queue, shared that she visits the sanctuary every year to thank San Cayetano for her job. However, this year, she added, she came to pray for those who are currently looking for work, especially the youth. "Everything changed so much after the new government came into power," she said, attributing the difficult economic situation to Milei's administration.

Buenos Aires Archbishop Jorge García Cuerva gave a religious service, acknowledging the tiredness of Argentines due to broken promises and leaders who were not close to the problems faced by the people. He noted that a larger crowd was present than in previous years, which he believed reflected people's need to pray for better circumstances.

Since Milei took office in December 2023, the unemployment rate has increased from 5.7% to 7.8% in the first quarter of 2026. The Center for Studies on Education in the Argentine Republic (CIFRA) reported a cumulative drop of over 40% in the purchasing power of the minimum wage. Salaries in the private sector have fallen nearly 4%, while public sector employees experienced an even harsher decrease of 36% in purchasing power since November 2023.