The 240 workers are on alert because the Crisis Preventive Procedure expires. They report salary arrears.
The Aceros Zapla company, located in Palpalá, Jujuy, is in crisis and its 240 workers fear that the situation will worsen and the firm will lay off personnel. Until the 30th of this month, the Preventive Crisis Procedure (PPC) that the firm processed before the government of that province is in force, justifying the request in that it could not meet its debts, nor the salaries of its workers. Currently they are paid 85% and the union denounced that the payment is made in parts and with a marked delay.
Zapla Steels once was the state-owned Altos Hornos Zaplathe first steel center in the country and which had a strategic role in the Argentine industry. Its first casting was in October 1945 and it was the heart of the city of Palpalá, next to San Salvador de Jujuy, and its surroundings because at its peak it involved labor for 5,000 workers. In the 90s it was privatized during the government of the former president Carlos Menemwhich led to a wave of layoffs that shrank the plant to less than a third. Currently and since 2000, its owner is the businessman Sergio Taselli. Since then, the plant suffered the crises of the country’s economic cycles, depending on the pace of economic activity of each presidential administration.
With the halt in construction and complementary activities, to which Aceros Zapla supplies steel and laminated parts, the plant’s activity was reduced to a minimum and this generated arrears in the payment of salaries in the second half of the year. The delegate of a section of the plant, enrolled in the UOM union, informed Ámbito. In June, The company presented the Crisis Preventive Procedure to the Ministry of Labor and Employment of Jujuy which generated a dialogue table that was integrated with representatives of the local government, as mediator, of the firm and the employees.
There was an agreement and it consisted of the suspension of personnel for 15 days (on a rotating basis) and payment of 85% of salaries. The average salary is around $550,000. “We accepted although we didn’t like it because the worst that could happen is that Aceros Zapla closes,” said the employee delegate who spoke with this medium. New problems arose when the company decided to send all workers in the Steel Section home, around 100, leaving only Laminates active because – although it was reduced – it has minimal demand from the construction sector, it was indicated.
Concern has increased in recent days due to the statements of the Carlos Coronelprovincial director of Labor, to various media in Jujuy. “This crisis has its origins in the liberalization of imports. Chinese steel is causing very significant damage throughout the country, to the point that 99% of steel companies in Argentina are having their workers suspended,” he stated. . The UOM Jujuy requested an audience with the governor a month ago Carlos Sadir but so far there has been no response, it was reported.
Company sources indicated to Ámbito that, so far, Aceros Zapla did not acquire Chinese steel and that in the coming days it will close an operation with Acindar to comply with acquired commitments, which will cause all Steelworks employees to return to the plant. It was also noted that part of the crisis is due to the marked drop in demand when the Government defunded the public works that were underway and that required products from that factory.
Next Tuesday the 19th the parties will meet at the Ministry of Labor because the UOM is demanding payment of two salary debts: 35% of October salaries and the result of the last joint meeting. The future of the firm will also be on the table because the PPC comes to an end on the 30th of this month. “We believe that there will be work until December, but after that. Our families are very worried, it is not the time to be unemployed,” said the delegate who spoke with Ámbito.
Source: Ambito
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