Argentina
The Government formalized a new statute for SIDE personnel starting in 2027
The regime was approved by decree and will replace the current rules in force since 2003. It establishes rules for hiring, career progression, promotions, incompatibilities and agents’ trips abroad.
The national Government approved a new statute for the personnel of the State Intelligence Secretariat (SIDE), which will take effect on January 1, 2027 and will render null and void the regime that had governed the area since 2003. The measure was formalized through Decree 1021/2026, published in the Official Gazette.
According to the official text, the new regulation orders central aspects of the labor relationship within the agency: hiring, professional career, promotions, evaluations, compensation, leave, scholarships, retirements and disciplinary regime.
In the decree’s grounds, the Government argued that the lack of a stable regime made it difficult to build a professional career and discouraged the incorporation of specialized personnel. It also stated that hiring and promotion processes must be based on technical, ethical and professional criteria, with the aim of consolidating a corps that transcends changes in the political climate.
The statute establishes that the career must be governed by principles such as suitability, equality, merit, transparency and professionalization. In addition, SIDE must hold annual calls for the National Intelligence School and passing the Basic Admission Course will be a requirement to join the career.
The personnel structure will be divided into three categories, according to each agent’s training and background. Category A will be for those with a university degree or certain backgrounds in the Armed and Security Forces; Category B, for those with tertiary education; and Category C, for those who can prove completed secondary studies.
Regular promotions will be tied to the minimum time spent in each category, mandatory training, psychophysical fitness and favorable performance evaluations. Clarín noted that other requirements will be defined by complementary regulations. Infobae added that evaluations will be annual and will cover, at a minimum, those with more than six months of seniority.
Among the obligations, agents must maintain strict confidentiality over information learned in the exercise of their duties, even after leaving the agency. They will also have to undergo tests of competence, reliability, suitability, counterintelligence and psychophysical fitness, in addition to completing updating and training courses.
The regulation also adds duties linked to activity outside the post. Agents must report absences of more than 200 kilometers from their usual place of work and request authorization to travel abroad. According to Infobae, they will also have to request annual permission to teach, pursue studies, publish articles, participate as speakers in academic activities or carry out other external tasks.
In terms of incompatibilities, the statute prohibits providing services for individuals or companies linked to security, defense, intelligence, cybersecurity, communications, surveillance, private investigations, journalism, advertising, market research, polling and similar activities. It also bars the use of information or documentation obtained in the course of duties for one’s own benefit or that of third parties, and accepting gifts or advantages related to the position.
The new regime provides for sanctions ranging from warnings and salary withholdings to dismissal and removal, with the intervention of the General Intelligence Inspectorate. It also maintains personnel affiliation to the Retirement, Pension and Retirement Fund of the Federal Police.
According to the decree, the goal is to strengthen a National Intelligence System that is professional, transparent, autonomous and agile. Until the new statute takes effect, SIDE must implement a transition regime to adjust the situation of personnel already providing services.
Sources
About this note. Written by El Notero with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not conduct its own reporting on this event.
