The World Today
La Gotita: urgent transfer to Argentina confirmed 10/31
La Gotita will cease production in Uruguay: Fenedur confirmed the closure of its plant in Canelones and announced the relocation of production to Argentina starting October 31, 2025, according to union representatives and the company's statement. The news set off alarm bells in the unions and highlighted the fragility of certain links in the local chemical industry. For families linked to the factory, the move means immediate uncertainty; for the regional economy, it means the loss of direct industrial activity.
The company not only manufactures La Gotita but also other lines of adhesives recognized in the national market. Industry leaders told local media that the measure affects approximately 40 workers, a figure that union organizations demand be addressed as a priority by labor authorities and the government. The Confederation of Industrial Unions declared a state of alert and demanded "immediate, urgent, and concrete measures" to mitigate the social and productive impact .
Impact on Canelones and jobs
The plant, located in Canelones, provided direct and indirect employment in the local supply chain; its closure will leave a void for contractors, logistics services, and local businesses. In rounded figures, unions report around 40 jobs at risk, but the multiplier effect means the real number of people affected rises when families and suppliers are included. According to neighborhood representatives, the department's communities are already beginning to evaluate alternatives to reactivate the industrial site or attract investment to replace lost wages.
La Gotita in Canelones: impact and jobs
La Gotita and Fenedur: union and business response
La Gotita and the Uruguayan Chemical Industry on alert
Response from the Union and Fenedur
The unions announced that they will support the measures taken by the Chemical Industry Workers' Union and demand formal negotiations with the company and the state. The Confederation expressed concern about a trend that, in its view, goes beyond a specific case and reflects an erosion of the country's productive capacity. Fenedur, for its part, justified the relocation on operational and logistical grounds in the official statement: process optimization and plant concentration. This company explanation does not soothe those who will lose income the week following the closure.
Uruguayan chemical industry on alert
The Confederation noted that the situation is part of an "extremely serious reality" in the national industry, with plant closures and job losses in other sectors. Analysts who spoke to the press point out that offshoring can translate into cost reductions for the company, but with social costs concentrated in small and medium-sized municipalities. The problem, according to local economists, is not new: the loss of competitiveness and pressure from regional chains are pushing decisions that favor scale and logistics over territorial sustainability.
What's next: Offshoring and alternatives
Immediately, the parties must agree on exit conditions: compensation, relocation plans, and possible training programs or temporary subsidies for those left unemployed. Among the options under discussion are land redevelopment, incentives to attract new businesses, and support schemes for local businesses that absorb labor. The outcome will depend on political will and the pace of negotiations; meanwhile, the affected families are watching a stable source of income crumble.
Conclusion: The relocation of La Gotita to Argentina is more than just a flashy headline; it's a practical example of how a corporate decision translates into social and territorial tensions. The magnitude of the impact will be measured in the coming weeks, when concrete measures are defined to protect workers and preserve industrial activity in Canelones. The ball is now in the court of the companies and authorities: if quick solutions aren't found, entire households will foot the bill.
