1000s of Argentineans march for pay rise

Thousands of teachers and government workers have taken to the streets of Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires, calling for a pay rise.

Members of the Argentine Workers Federation, the South American country’s largest trade union, marched on Wednesday outside the Casa Rosada Government House at Plaza de Mayo square in central Buenos Aires.

The protesters urged the government to double the minimum wage in the face of rising inflation and currency devaluation.

Union chief Pablo Micheli said the government workers were seeking a minimum wage of 9,000 pesos (USD 1,150), more than twice the current minimum of 3,600 Pesos (USD 457) a month.

Trade unions have invited the government of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner to talks over the diminishing purchasing power.

Argentina recorded an 11 percent inflation rate in 2013, but independent economists say the actual rate is more than 30 percent.

In August last year, thousands of Argentineans held an anti-government demonstration in the capital to show their anger against rising inflation and corruption.