Argentina

Operating a business

Setting up a company

Legal business entities

Different types of companies	Number of partners/shareholders	Maximum and/or minimum capital	Liabilities	Registration fees
The Empresa Unipersonales is an individual businessman alone.	1 person	No minimum capital	The businessman is liable for the company's debts on his personal property.
The Sociedad Anonima (SA) is a public limited company .	Minimum 2 shareholders	12 000 ARP minimum. At least 25% of the capital must be paid up at the creation of the company, the balance within 2 years.	Their liability is limited to the amount of capital contributed.	1 000 to 2 000 ARP before fiscal stamp (1% of subscribed capital) and other professional expenses.
The Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada (SRL) is a limited liability company .	Minimum 2 partners. Maximum 50 partners.	No minimum capital. At least 25% of the capital must be paid up at the creation of the company, the balance within 2 years	Their liability is limited to the amount of capital contributed.	1 000 to 2 000 ARP before fiscal stamp (1% of subscribed capital) and other professional expenses.
The Sociedad en commandita por acciones (SCA) is a limited joint-stock partnership .	There are two types of partners, active partners and silent partners.	No minimum capital.	The liability of the active partners is unlimited. The liability of the silent partners is limited to the amount of capital contributed.	Costs less than those of a SA
The Sociedad en commandita simple (SCS) is a limited partnership.	There are two types of partners, active partners and silent partners	No minimum capital.	The liability of the active partners is unlimited. The liability of the silent partners is limited to the amount of capital contributed.	Costs less than those of a SA.

Business setup procedures: The Articles of Association must be written in Spanish, in the form of a notarial deed. The incorporation of the company must be published in the Official Gazette and registered at the register of Commerce (Inspeccion General de Justicia) where the headquarters of the company is situated. Branch offices and offices of foreign companies must also be registered. Finally, a specific registration must be carried out with the Tax Services (including for branch offices).
The competent organization: General Inspection of Justice (Inspeccion General de Justicia)

Working conditions

Legal weekly duration: No legal duration
Retirement age: 60 for women, 65 for men
Working contracts: Legal measures (laws n° 20744, 24013, 24465 and 24467) govern work contracts; collective agreements and individual negotiation complete them.
The formality of work contracts is very rigid. Hiring and firing procedures are constraining.

Cost of labor

Minimum wage: 980 pesos per month
Average wage: 1546 pesos per month
Social contributions: Social security contributions paid by employers: 33%.
Social security contributions paid by employees: 17%

Social partners

Bargaining power: Most unions are affiliated to the general labor confederation (CGT). In 1997 the government recognized the smallest federation in Argentina: the Argentine Workers Group (CTA).
Negotiations in Argentina take place at the national level, by sector of activity. The unions are very powerful, especially the truck-drivers' union. The CGT, led by Mr Moyano, is an essential ally for every government.
Unions: List of all Argentine unions
Unionization rate: No data.
Labor regulation bodies: Ministry of Labor and Employment