The company Newsan-Siam, part of a multi-sector group owned by Rubén Cherñajovsky and family, has terminated the contracts of workers with one year or more of seniority: 30 at the Monte Chingolo plant, 15 at the Avellaneda plant, and the cessation of operations for another 70 at its establishments in the province of Buenos Aires. The Siam brand mainly produces refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, televisions, small appliances, and electric scooters (especially at the Monte Chingolo plant and in Ushuaia), reported the Noticias Argentinas agency. The company justified this by citing a drop in sales, but a September 2025 rating report from Moody's Local agency noted that the company has a good competitive position and low levels of debt, both in the long and short term. However, it also assured that these are not arbitrary dismissals, but the natural conclusion of fixed-term and temporary contracts that expired during January. The workers' version differs: they denounce a maneuver of 'hidden dismissals' in the context of the national debate on labor reform and state that, having a year or more of seniority in their positions, they should have already been incorporated into the company's permanent staff. At the same time, of the 150 active operators that make up the total workforce of both plants, almost half are currently under a suspension regime with no return date set. The intervention of the Metal Workers' Union (UOM) Avellaneda Section left the dismissals in suspense, as it managed to reach a temporary agreement with Newsan to guarantee the continuity of jobs throughout February, but accepted suspensions for half of the active staff at 85% of their salary, while the other half would cover positions in the plants. Despite this respite, the scenario for March remains shrouded in uncertainty. Delegates and workers remain on alert, fearing that once the truce is over, the company will resume its plan to downsize its operational structure. The conflict escalated in October of last year when workers were suspended for a week. In January, they had vacations, but upon returning at the beginning of this week, they were surprised: some of them were not allowed to enter, so they denounce 'hidden dismissals' under the excuse of contract termination, given that, in theory, the company has six months of unsold scooters in stock.
