Argentina data workers to strike, govt denies revamp

BUENOS AIRES, March 27 (Reuters) - Disgruntled workers at Argentina's national statistics bureau, INDEC, said on Tuesday they plan a 24-hour strike next month to keep protesting what they call government manipulation of inflation data.

At the same time, a source at the Economy Ministry denied widespread media reports that the government is weighing more transparent hiring mechanisms at the agency and the creation of a board of experts to provide oversight.

The labor walkout is planned for April 10, a day after INDEC is due to report March consumer inflation, which analysts will scrutinize after lower-than-expected readings in January and February fueled suspicions of political meddling.

Unionized workers at INDEC, who account for about a quarter of the agency's 1,200 employees, have been staging protests since late January, when the government replaced the head of the consumer price index unit with someone seen as an ally.

"On Tuesday, April 10th, we will march to the Economy Ministry to protest the manipulation of the CPI," said Daniel Fazio, a union leader at INDEC.

Fazio said to restore shaken confidence in Argentina's inflation data, INDEC "would have to return to its previous CPI methodology and fill positions through transparent contests so that the most apt technicians are hired."

He said INDEC is using the prices listed under government-led price-freeze accords to calculate inflation, as opposed to the real market value of goods.

The government denies any changes to the methodology used to measure inflation and says such accusations are politically motivated.

A source at the Economy Ministry told Reuters on Tuesday that media reports of a "restructuring" at INDEC are also unfounded. The source said the government had already planned to fill certain jobs under an open hiring process and that this did not mark a change.

Earlier this month, the director of INDEC stepped down, citing health reasons. His deputy, Mario Krieger, was named as a temporary replacement.

Taming inflation as Argentina's economy grows by more than 8 percent a year has become the government's top priority. Prices jumped a higher-than-expected 12.3 percent in 2005 and another 9.8 percent in 2006.

The center-left government of President Nestor Kirchner has spearheaded accords with companies to freeze wholesale and retail prices on a host of basic goods, and many of these agreements run through December 2007. (Additional reporting by Cesar Illiano)