Vietnamese workers at the Linglong factory in Zrenjanin

Category: Land, water and workers

Period: from Nov 2021

Outcome: Under investigation (as of 10 Feb 2026)

In November 2021, the organisations A11 and ASTRA reported that around 500 Vietnamese workers building the Chinese Linglong tyre factory near Zrenjanin were living in inhumane conditions in barracks, without the passports their employer had taken from them. The groups reported suspected human trafficking. The factory was built with about €83.5 million in state aid, and in 2025 the United States banned imports of its tyres over evidence of forced labour. More than four years after the complaint, no one has been charged, and prosecutors are now also examining a complaint from workers from Bangladesh.

Vietnamese workers in barracks

In November 2021, the organisations A11 and ASTRA reported that about 500 workers from Vietnam, hired to build the Linglong factory near Zrenjanin, were living in barracks in inhumane conditions and that their employer had confiscated their passports on arrival. They reported suspected human trafficking for labour exploitation to prosecutors, the police, the labour inspectorate and the Protector of Citizens.

Linglong said the workers had been hired by its contractor, the Chinese company TEPC.

Inspection and the authorities' response

After the footage was published, labour inspectors went to the construction site, the workers were moved, and their passports were returned on 19 November 2021.

Minister Tomislav Momirović said the inspections had found no irregularities and that the workers were "very well paid", while President Aleksandar Vučić said the inspection had been sent "because of pressure" and that he would not "chase away investors".

Investigation without an indictment

On 16 December 2021, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on Serbia to investigate the case and hold those responsible to account. UN experts also voiced concern.

According to the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Zrenjanin, the case was still open in December 2025. More than four years after the complaint, no one has been charged.

State aid and the import ban

The Linglong factory was built with about €83.5 million in state aid, including €75.8 million in cash and about 96 hectares of land transferred free of charge.

In December 2025, the US banned imports of tyres from the Zrenjanin factory over evidence of forced labour; Linglong called the decision "completely incomprehensible".

Workers from Bangladesh

In January 2026, the organisations Astra and the Zrenjanin Social Forum warned that dozens of workers from Bangladesh who had worked at the Linglong factory through an intermediary agency had had their passports confiscated and their wages withheld. The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Zrenjanin is examining a human trafficking complaint.

Worker's death

In June 2026, a worker was killed at the production plant of the Linglong factory. The next day, the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Zrenjanin said that, according to the established facts, the death was caused by the victim's failure to follow work procedures, and announced that a final decision would follow.

Participants

Linglong International Europe LLC, Zrenjanin: According to a US Customs order, workers at its factory are subject to indicators of forced labour, including the confiscation of documents (responsible)
Tianjin Electric Power Construction (TEPC), part of China Energy Engineering Group: According to Linglong, it hired the Vietnamese workers whose employer confiscated their passports and housed them in barracks in inhumane conditions (responsible)
Aleksandar Vučić: He said the inspectors were sent because of pressure, that he would not drive investors away and that a campaign was being waged against Linglong (commented on the case)
Ana Brnabić: She said the workers had been ordered to be relocated and did not rule out that the attacks were targeting Chinese investment (commented on the case)
Tomislav Momirović: He said inspectors had found no irregularities, while the workers were sleeping in substandard conditions and were very well paid (commented on the case)
Aleksandar Vulin: Responding to the resolution, he said MEPs were taking out their frustrations (commented on the case)
Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs (Labour Inspectorate): Four days after N1's footage, it sent inspectors and announced that the construction site was the most closely inspected in Central Banat (commented on the case)
Government of the Republic of Serbia: According to a State Department report, it did not fully investigate the allegations of forced labour and claimed the workers were not victims of human trafficking (responsible)
Commission for State Aid Control: Granted €83.5 million in state aid to the factory, which RERI claims is unlawful because the land was transferred before the decision (responsible)
Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Serbia: According to RERI, besides the €75.8 million in incentives, it and the investor did not report all of the state aid, including tax breaks (responsible)
Simo Salapura: As mayor, in 2022 he signed the contract under which Linglong bought 2.8 hectares of city land in Ečka for 14 million dinars (commented on the case)
City of Zrenjanin: According to Green-Left Front councillors, he allocated around €7.2 million for the factory's infrastructure and for clearing mines from the site (commented on the case)
Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Zrenjanin: For the workers from India, it said there were no elements of a criminal offence, and after the US decision it did not open an investigation because there was no new evidence (responsible)
Protector of Citizens (Ombudsman): In 2021 it stated that all foreign workers had work permits, but according to the Labour Inspectorate only 35 of 353 had a permit (responsible)
A 11 – Initiative for Economic and Social Rights: It visited the workers, reported suspected human trafficking and filed criminal complaints against TEPC and Linglong (oversight and the public)
ASTRA – Anti-Trafficking Action: It visited the workers, reported suspected human trafficking and filed a criminal complaint for workers from India (oversight and the public)
European Parliament: In a resolution, it called for an investigation and accountability; six MEPs spoke of a picture of modern slavery (oversight and the public)
UN Human Rights Council (independent experts): It expressed concern over the possible forced labour of Vietnamese workers suspected of being victims (oversight and the public)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP): It issued an order detaining imports of tyres from the factory over nine indicators of forced labour (oversight and the public)
Zrenjanin Social Forum: With Astra it warned of the confiscated passports and withheld wages of workers from Bangladesh, and later that Linglong has kept them under control since the complaints (oversight and the public)
Mladen Vujin: The day after a worker was killed at Linglong, he said the victim had not followed the work procedure rules (investigation and courts)