The Chamber of Deputies in Argentina has approved a controversial labour reform bill which led to a nationwide strike last week.

It's now expected to be signed into law by the president, Fernando de la Rua.

The government says the law will help create jobs and tackle unemployment, which currently stands at almost fourteen per cent.

But trade unions say the new law will lead to lower wages and weaken workers' rights.

Correspondents say the bill is the centrepiece of Mr de la Rua's austerity measures intended to revive the Argentine economy and open the way for new loans from the International Monetary Fund.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service