(DR) Polopique
Another 1,000 workers are at risk. There are workers from Polopiqué to starve. It is “the largest tax escape of the 21st century”.
“It’s been much worse than in recent years,” says Francisco Vieira, coordinator of the Minho and Trás-os-Montes Textile Union.
The beginning of September is usually synonymous with Disposal in the industry. But September 2025 was worse than usual.
The highlight that, in the first week of this month, about 1,000 people – only in the Ave Valley.
Concerned are collective discharges in the textile and no shoes, Highlighting Polopiqué (Santo Tirso), which will close the factories in Guimarães and Vizela, saying goodbye 280 workers. Other units will be restructured and may out of 400 workers.
There are workers from Polopiqué a Pass hungry. They went to the company’s door to order food last week.
Stampdyeing (Ponte, Guimarães) said goodbye about 100 people, also in early September. Also in Guimarães, Darita (São Torcato) said goodbye 70 people and Bravisublime (São Lourenço do Selho) sent 42 workers home.
And there are still others about 1,000 workers at riskdue to 17 companies in a situation of insolvency – All in the Guimarães Court. JF Almeida, which has 800 workers, has insolvented but guarantees that it will not say goodbye.
Somelos – with 900 workers – is late in paying salaries, Tearfil (250 people) is also not paying properly.
The presidents of the Guimarães City Council and the Vizela City Council already ask for help to the government. It is a situation of “Weakness that is crossing the textile and shoe industry, ”warns Domingos Bragança, mayor of Guimarães.
Among the Aveiro and Braga districts, at least 150 people have been fired in recent days.
Why?
Companies find a main culprit for this situation: Imported, counterfeit and without paying taxes.
Platforms like Shein e Ago They sell a lot of clothes, and in many cases it is counterfeit material.
“It is the fault of the way Europe has broken the market and allowed the Largest tax escape from the 21st century“, Points out César Araújo, president of Anivec-National Association of clothing and clothing industries, complaining above all the fact that goods until 150 euros do not pay customs tariffs.
“The stores are ending, the small commerce is closing, and now these online platforms copy everything, counterfeit. This is crime. We are on a tax escape and we are pipering, we are turning into a criminal state, ”continues César Araújo.
But the president of Anivec believes that the sector “It has the ability” to absorb workers that have been fired this month.
Ricardo Silva, president of the Textile and Clothing Association of Portugal, said in which the sector should to improve in the medium term – but admits closer of companies next months.
