Venezuela Seizes K-C Factory after Personal Care Giant Pulls out of Crisis-Torn Nation

Venezuela's government said Monday of this week that it will seize a factory belonging to Kimberly-Clark Corp. (Irving, Texas, USA) after the personal care giant said it was no longer possible to manufacture in this crisis-wracked South American nation.

According to an Associated Press report, Labor Minister Owaldo Vera said the socialist government was taking the action at the request of the 971 workers who have occupied the factory that the company decided to shutter in central Aragua state.

Kimberly-Clark announced on Saturday that it was suspending production in Venezuela because of a lack of primary materials, currency trouble, and soaring inflation. The company made a number of hard-to-find staples in Venezuela such as diapers and facial tissues.

"Kimberly-Clark will continue producing for all of the Venezuelans," Vera said in a televised statement from the factory surrounded by workers chanting pro-government slogans.

President Nicolas Maduro's socialist government accused Kimberly-Clark of failing to properly notify the government of its plans.

Kimberly-Clark said Monday that it acted appropriately in suspending operations.

"If the Venezuelan government takes control of Kimberly-Clark facilities and operations, it will be responsible for the well-being of the workers and the physical assets, equipment, and machinery in the facilities going forward," the company said in a statement.

Kimberly-Clark joins Bridgestone, General Mills, Procter & Gamble, and other multinational corporations in scaling back operations in Venezuela amid its economic crisis.