Agreement to pay 70% of footwear salary
On April 14th, an Framework Agreement was signed between the Union of Footwear Industry Workers of the Argentine Republic (UTICRA) and the Footwear Industry Chamber (CIC) of Buenos Aires.
In this sense, during the month of April and with the possibility of an extension, it is proposed as an optional measure the payment of wages in 70% of the total, added to the contributions corresponding to medical coverage, to the union and welfare fund. In the context of inactivity in production and economic emergency, the Framework Agreement is made for the benefit of employers and employees.
The agreement also describes the autonomy of companies in how to handle the situation, ensuring that this tool "is not binding", as reported by UTICRA.
The CIC was represented by its president -José Fernando De Vito- and the secretary -Horacio Moschetto-; while from UTICRA, Agustín Amicone, secretary general of the entity, was part of it.
It is important to note that the other shoe associations of Argentina, from the provinces of Córdoba and Santa Fe, did not adhere to the negotiation and gave freedom to each of their associates to agree with their workers according to the criteria and capacity of each company.
In the pandemic situation, the national government established Preventive and Mandatory Social Isolation with effect until April 26. Although there are sectors excepted by the regulation, the shoe industry is not the case.
Besides, from March 31st and for 60 days, there will be no "layoffs due to lack of work and force majeure", as well as suspensions.