In Argentina, the situation with companies is worsening, and the number of firms closing or facing various labor problems is escalating, following the closure of the iconic tire company Fate as the most recent case. The government ordered mandatory conciliation for 15 days after mediation between the company and the Sindicato Único de Trabajadores del Neumático Argentino (SUTNA). The poultry company Granja Tres Arroyos is facing a labor conflict due to unpaid salaries, bonuses, overtime, and vacation pay. This has led workers to take forceful measures, causing significant operational tensions. Casa Montes, a winery located in the province of San Juan, is in a financial crisis of over $450 million. It is responsible for brands such as Ampakama, Fuego Negro, Alzamora, and Baltazar. The textile company Grupo Dass laid off more than 40 workers at the beginning of 2026. «When you compare it to how supermarkets are doing in Uruguay, Chile, Brazil, and the rest of the world, we are doing very badly,» Braun stated. The iconic beverage company Cervecería Quilmes had to lay off part of its 260 employees at its plant in Zárate. They will now operate with 80 workers, a 43% cut in total staff. It had been inaugurated six years ago, in 2020, with an investment of over $5,000 million. Among the main causes, the company cites falling consumption and the opening to imports, which hit its financial situation, which had been struggling since 2025. The Justice declared the bankruptcy of Alimentos Refrigerados Sociedad Anónima (ARSA), a company that produced yogurts and desserts for SanCor, and had to lay off about 400 workers between its two plants in Buenos Aires (Lincoln) and Córdoba (Monte Cristo), with 180 and 200 employees respectively. The closure came after the failed preventive conciliation initiated in early 2024. The closure occurs in a context of crisis for the industry affected by trade opening, which had a greater impact from imports. In this context, the government had ordered mandatory conciliation for 15 days after a mediation between the company and the Sindicato Único de Trabajadores del Neumático Argentino (SUTNA). Emilio Alal completely closed its plants in Corrientes (Goya) and Chaco (Villa Ángela). The measure affected more than 260 workers, leaving them unemployed and also affecting numerous indirect jobs linked to suppliers and local services. The steel producer Acindar has recorded several periods of temporary production stoppages. ARSA had accumulated debts with suppliers, transporters, and employees, plus delays in salary payments. The company attributes the bankruptcy to the national economic context, detailing inflation rates, falling consumption, and the rising cost of raw milk. Uncertainty is growing about the continuity of Lácteos Verónica: plants are paralyzed and salaries are owed. Workers from the dairy company, along with their families and neighbors, held a march last week to the company's headquarters in Lehmann, province of Santa Fe. The crisis situation at the dairy company reaches its three production plants, located in Suardi, Clason, and Lehmann itself. In this sense, and according to what Agencia Noticias Argentinas was able to gather, Clason has been stopped for months, while Lehmann and Suardi stopped operating «about two weeks ago when the 'fason' ran out». The company has accumulated months of salary debt, plus a halt in the production line due to a lack of supplies and raw materials. These factors put around 700 jobs at risk. «We haven't been paid our December salaries, nor the bonus,» they stated from the Clason plant. The possible sale of the company is also in play, which is considered «the only salvation to save the source of employment». «There's not much more to add,» they added. In 2024, 3 suspensions were applied: 1,700 in February, 3,000 in March, and 460 in June. In 2025, this number was more frequent: 980 suspensions in February, 130 in June, 600 in July, 600 in September, 200 in October, and almost all of its workers in December. Furthermore, there were layoffs in March 2024 (at least 115), February (65 layoffs after an assembly), and June 2025 (130 outsourced workers). ADS, the air conditioner manufacturer for the brand Fedders in Tierra del Fuego, declared bankruptcy, and the workers, who have not been paid since December, took over the factory. The 140 operators are backed by the UOM. Meanwhile, the 16 supervisors, in an identical salary situation, perform their functions from the local ASIMRA regional branch due to the silence of the national leadership headed by Luis García Ortíz. The closure of ADS is not the first on the island, nor, it seems, will it be the last. Fate closes: the tire manufacturer announced the end of its operations and will lay off 920 workers. One of the most recent cases was that of the historic tire manufacturer, which immediately announced its definitive closure and will fire 920 employees. The plant that will cease operations is the largest in the country and had a productive capacity that exceeded five million tires per year.
