Framework of NGO labour in Argentina

Abstract

As in most developing states, NGO activity in Argentina has increased considerably from the middle of the 20th century. Today it covers a wide scope of social interests, such as economic development and wealth redistribution, public health, environmental care, and human rights protection. The size and structure of the NGOs varies extensively, from small and unregistered grassroots organizations to company-supported foundations with administrative bureaucracies and financial resources that municipal governments would envy. But labor law and public policies aimed at promoting volunteering do not recognize the heterogeneous nature of the non-profit sector or the differences between that sector and the for-profit sector. In this article, we highlight three aspects of this unidimensional legal framework and their impact on the workforce of NGOs—employees as well as volunteers.