The multinational SKF company plans to close its plant in Tortuguitas (Buenos Aires), which employed 145 workers, and move production to Brazil. The decision was made due to the unsustainability of their business model and the need to relocate production to non-unionized areas. In Argentina, the plant had already stopped paying compensation to workers due to the company's financial situation. The situation is described as economically unsustainable, with ADIMRA reporting a 5.2% drop in production compared to the previous year and a 1.1% drop compared to the same period last year. This minimal level of loading has been observed in the Buenos Aires and Córdoba regions since 2020. 'It's not about losing a few jobs, but about losing dignity and rights,' said UOM Abel Furlan, SKF's secretary general. According to him, the company is now converting its Argentine business to an import platform, moving production to Brazil, and thus securing the labor force. 'They are moving their production, and Argentina is being left out. This is not about losing jobs—it's a change in the entire economic model,' he added. The workers are demanding that the company guarantee social benefits. According to local sources, the company is threatening to lay off workers through 'voluntary' layoffs, reducing hours and wages, and hiring temporary staff. They are demanding a dignified solution. The company's plan includes the concentration of production in large factories with advanced technology. SKF, founded in 1917, specializes in bearings and automotive systems. In 2024, it sold more than 9.3 million bearings, and for the first three months of 2025, its operational profit increased by 13.5%. For the full year, the ratio was 70.4%, and for the automotive sector, 29.6%. Sales in Southern and North America account for 31.1% of global production. 'For every number in the financial statement—life, family, years of work,' said another worker. The demands of the workers' union include the assembly of public goods, publications, and general demands on the company. They are demanding compliance with labor laws, but without guarantees for the preservation of jobs. The closure of the factories in Tortuguitas represents a global trend: companies are moving local production to import platforms, without guaranteeing the preservation of workers' jobs. The situation in Argentina highlights the impact of these trends on the textile industry.
