In a bold move to reform its penitentiary system, Argentina has announced the launch of the «Manos a la Obra» initiative, inspired by the successful prison model implemented in El Salvador. The plan, spearheaded by Minister of National Security Patricia Bullrich, aims to create a self-sustaining prison system where inmates are required to work, thereby eliminating leisure time and promoting accountability.
Minister Bullrich expressed her outrage at the notion of prisoners receiving «salaries» for idleness, asserting that it is an injustice when ordinary citizens work hard for their income. «All prisoners will have the obligation to work to maintain the places where they are housed,» she stated in a video posted on her X account. The initiative is designed to ensure that prisons are maintained by the very individuals who reside in them, funded by taxpayer contributions.
This reform echoes El Salvador’s «Plan Cero Ocio,» which has seen significant success in reducing crime and improving prison conditions. Under «Manos a la Obra,» inmates will not only engage in maintaining the facilities but will also produce their own food and create prison clothing, further enhancing the self-sufficiency of the system.
Bullrich emphasized the importance of hard work for prisoners, declaring, «Vagrancy in prisons has ended. Now all prisoners will work fixing them.» This marks a significant departure from previous administrations, which allowed prisoners to receive compensation for minimal work and even supported the establishment of a prisoners’ union recognized by the Ministry of Labor.
The announcement took place at the Federal Penitentiary Complex I in Ezeiza, Argentina, and comes shortly after President Javier Milei met with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele. During this meeting, a delegation of Salvadoran officials, including Minister of Justice and Security Gustavo Villatoro, shared insights from their country’s successful security and rehabilitation strategies.
In El Salvador, the transformation of the prison system has enabled the government to utilize the labor of non-gang-affiliated inmates to maintain various public facilities, including medical units and police headquarters. President Bukele has reported efforts to rehabilitate 48,000 prisoners willing to undergo training to reintegrate into society.
Argentina, facing a similar challenge in its prison system, aims to achieve significant savings through this new model. Currently, the state allocates approximately $150 million annually to the penitentiary system, but the self-sustaining approach could result in savings of around $56 million.
As Argentina embarks on this transformative journey, the outcomes of the «Manos a la Obra» initiative will be closely monitored, both domestically and internationally, as the nation seeks to strike a balance between security, rehabilitation, and social justice.