New Evidence Of Labor Abuses At Flagship Chinese Factory In Serbia

"BELGRADE -- Human rights groups say dozens of Bangladeshi workers employed at a Chinese-owned tire factory in northeastern Serbia were subjected to labor abuses that may amount to human trafficking, renewing scrutiny of a flagship Chinese investment that has faced years of controversy over its treatment of foreign workers. Serbian prosecutors confirmed on January 28 that they received a report alleging human trafficking and labor rights violations involving Bangladeshi workers at the Linglong tire factory near the city of Zrenjanin."

""A number of workers, with legal assistance, managed to receive their outstanding wages, and all workers had their passports returned," Marija Andelkovic, the director of Astra, a Serbian NGO that supports victims of human trafficking, told RFE/RL. She added that several workers were transferred to Serbia's state-run Center for the Protection of Victims of Human Trafficking."

"According to Astra and other groups combating human trafficking in the Balkans, who first came forward with the allegations at a press conference, more than 40 Bangladeshi workers arrived in Serbia in June 2025 after being recruited by labor agencies in Bangladesh. Many took on debts of up to $10,000 to secure the jobs, a practice rights groups say left them vulnerable to exploitation before they even arrived. Many workers also had their passports confiscated upon arriving in Serbia to work at the factory. The allegations are the latest in a series of claims of forced labor linked to the Linglong factory, a cornerstone of Serbia's economic partnership with China. Similar accusations previously involved Vietnamese and Indian workers, which prompted warnings from international bodies, including the European Parliament and the United Nations Human Rights Committee."

Dozens of Bangladeshi workers at the Chinese-owned Linglong tire factory near Zrenjanin, Serbia, were allegedly subjected to labor abuses that may constitute human trafficking. Serbian prosecutors received a report on January 28 alleging human trafficking and labor rights violations and said the case is under review with no formal charges announced. Many workers arrived in June 2025 after recruitment by Bangladeshi labor agencies and often incurred debts up to $10,000 to secure jobs. Workers reportedly had passports confiscated upon arrival. Some workers received outstanding wages and had passports returned, and several were transferred to a state protection center. The Linglong plant has faced prior forced labor accusations involving Vietnamese and Indian workers and drew warnings from the European Parliament and the U.N. Human Rights Committee. The Bangladeshi workers declined interviews citing safety fears.

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