In February 2025, MercoPress reported that workers, including Chinese and Ecuadorian migrants, employed by China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) have allegedly been subjected to labour rights violations while constructing a 500-kilovolt transmission line in Uruguay for state energy company UTE.

Workers allegedly experienced a range of violations, including unsuitable living conditions, “gruelling” work hours, and wage theft. In February, a vehicle used by CMEC transporting seven Chinese workers allegedly overturned, injuring six workers and killing one worker, leading to allegations by the National Union of Construction and Single Industries that the vehicle was unsafe.

In May, Dialogo Americas reported that the National Union of Construction and Single Industries (SUNCA) has filed a criminal complaint against CMEC for conditions of forced labour at the site.

In May, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited CMEC and UTE to respond to the allegations. UTE and CMEC did not respond.