80/20 local hiring: 80% of personnel with 2 years' residency in Rio Negro

It fully replaces the text of local-labor law J 2904. The new art. 5 sets three floors: at least 80% of personnel of Argentine nationality (by birth or naturalization, or foreigners with permanent residency and DNI); at least 80% with legal and actual domicile in Rio Negro and 2 years of continuous residency (with an exception for Rio Negro students returning with a tertiary or university degree); and at least 20% women and gender-diverse people. Non-compliance brings progressive fines on the contract amount, suspension from state supplier registries, termination of the contract or disqualification from contracting, and the penalties of law K 5255. verif · Aug 21, 2025 ↗

Since its publication in the Official Gazette (09-01-2025, art. 2). Already enforced on the ground: official inspection at Chelforo (10-30-2025) on the VMOS build: 101 workers, 82 from Rio Negro (81.2%), over-complying with the rule. verif · Oct 30, 2025 ↗

Public and private works declared of provincial interest or with state financing - in practice, the entire corridor build (VMOS, San Matias Pipeline, LNG). For the Rio Negro worker it is a labor-market reserve; for the contractor, a real operating constraint that forces local training before bringing people from outside. verif · 2025-2026 ↗