FNC and Pilsen union reach agreement over Minas plant closure

Fábricas Nacionales de Cerveza (FNC) and the Pilsen union have reached a preliminary agreement following the decision to close the industrial plant in Minas, Lavalleja. The deal, negotiated at the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, addresses the future of the 59 workers affected by the closure.

Under the terms, 28 workers will transfer to the Montevideo plant, with relocations expected to begin in November. The remaining 31 employees will have access to various exit options, including incentivized retirement, standard retirement, or a pre-retirement scheme allowing workers to access benefits from age 53 while the company continues to pay a percentage of their salary until full retirement eligibility.

The agreement also includes a reduction of the workweek to 40 hours during certain periods of the year without loss of salary, a long-standing union demand. Additionally, the company plans a 14 million dollar investment aimed at strengthening national production and potentially substituting certain imported brands with local production.