Argentina's national library lay-offs cause 'fainting' and 'tears of outrage'

240 library employees, around a quarter of the workforce, have lost their jobs at the Biblioteca Nacional in Buenos Aires, in a move criticised by free speech organisations

Mass lay-offs at the national library in Argentina, where 240 employees lost their jobs last week, have been slammed by intellectuals and free speech organisations.

The cuts at the Biblioteca Nacional, once run by Jorge Luis Borges, were announced last Tuesday to “tears and cries of outrage”, according to a report in La Nacion, which said that staff had been phoned by authorities throughout the day to be given the news, which caused “fainting and nervous breakdowns”. They stem from new president Mauricio Macri’s government, which has already fired thousands of public sector workers as part of cost-cutting measures.

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