"New Evidence Of Labor Abuses At Flagship Chinese Factory In Serbia" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 29 January 2026

Watchdog groups warned on January 30 that the Chinese tire factory Linglong has "tightened control and retaliation" against workers from Bangladesh, following reports earlier this week about the violations of their rights, including allegations of human trafficking and labor violations at the facility near the city of Zrenjanin.

"Workers report that their phones are sealed with red stickers, that photographing, recording, or taking notes is prohibited, and that factory entry passes are now being strictly enforced as a means of control," [...] a local NGO focused on workers rights, said in a statement [...].

The NGO [...] first reported suspicions of human trafficking and exploitation of several dozen workers from Bangladesh to Serbian state institutions.

The case is now under review, Serbian authorities said, but no formal charges have been announced.

Many workers 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 Bangladeshi workers declined to speak to RFE/RL, citing fear for their safety. Linglong did not respond to requests for comment.