Argentina’s footwear industry is facing a severe downturn, with approximately 100 factories closing and around 10,000 jobs lost over the past two years, driven by falling domestic demand, rising import competition and smuggling.
Speaking to news outlet El Destape, Horacio Moschetto, president of the Chamber of the Footwear Industry, warned of the sector’s condition: “The sector is in a very precarious situation. Over the last two years, 100 factories have closed and 10,000 jobs have been lost”.
The impact has been particularly severe in the province of Buenos Aires. In La Matanza, one of the country’s main footwear manufacturing centres, employment and production have fallen significantly. Factory closures, including a footwear plant in Coronel Suárez, have further heightened concerns over local industrial activity and employment.
The Buenos Aires provincial legislature is now considering a bill that would declare a 12-month economic, productive and employment emergency for the footwear industry, with the possibility of an extension. Proposed measures include tax relief, payment plans for outstanding tax liabilities, and protection against the disconnection of public utilities for eligible businesses. To access these benefits, companies must retain their registered workforce.
Alongside the legislative proposals, manufacturers, suppliers, retailers and trade unions are organising a national demonstration in Buenos Aires on 27 October to call for measures supporting domestic production and safeguarding employment.
