GAELLE, recognized footwear brand, closed its industrial plant

As a result of the crisis that the Argentine footwear industry is experiencing due to the drop in domestic consumption and the increase in imports, one of the most emblematic national brands closed its industrial plant in Avellaneda, which meant the loss of 300 jobs.
Since 2016, a series of layoffs and voluntary retirements of most of the staff began, which lasted until August 22 when, before the final closure, the last 60 operators lost their jobs.
The closing of GAELLE has significance in the sector due to its long history and strong brand presence in the national market, associated with the sports sector. To this are added the activities of its founder José Lópes, a prominent sector leader who in past decades held the presidency of the Chamber of the Footwear Industry of Buenos Aires.
In May 2016, in statements to press media, the industrialist warned that “prices soar and profitability is being lost. Our illusion is that these first six months pass, that are being very hard due to the changes produced in the market”.
In line with the cessation of GAELLE activities, the UTICRA leadership, which groups the union sector, highlighted the critical situation of the national industry that causes the closure of factories and dismissals of workers. It reiterated its request to the national government to close footwear imports for a year, and confirmed that between direct and covert layoffs, as of 2016 already add more than 6 thousand jobs lost.