It's already autumn, and the tires are still gone: Linglong – affair after affair, and they just don't seem to be rolling
In connection with the largest Chinese investment in the country, the Lingong factory, we reported on environmental problems, exploitation of workers, strikes, physical punishment and mobbing, as well as preventing journalists from doing their jobs. Affair after affair was lined up, but the tires just couldn't roll. The deadlines for putting the plant into operation have been breached several times. What is happening with the project of national interest, which the state helped with 100 hectares of land and 83.5 million euros in grants?
When the foundation stone was laid on March 30, 2019, it was announced that the red ribbon at the gate of the largest factory under the roof would be cut already in September 2021. During 2022, it was said that production will start soon, and then - in the near future.
The year 2023 also arrived, in February, President Vučić met again with the management of the Chinese company and then it was announced that trial work would finally begin - in the spring.
"And then information comes to us, they can't make tires, the tires burst, the quality of the raw materials is bad, one machine they are exhibiting is fantastic, it's a sight to see, the other one is Chinese, it's useless, they can't make tires, so that we have a whole series of unofficial information", reminds journalist Ivana Gordić Perc.
And here it is already autumn, and there are no tires yet. Nevertheless, the machines work and we know that because in June and August, two workers were seriously injured. Not on construction but when working on machines. This was confirmed by the company itself.
When we asked Linglong's management in June a series of questions, including why the deadlines are being pushed and what is the new deadline for the completion of the works, we received a short answer, three sentences, which boils down to the fact that despite all the challenges, Linglong continues with by building a factory, in accordance with all laws of the Republic of Serbia. When we asked again in October about breaking the deadlines, but also about the circumstances under which the workers were injured while working on the machines, and whether trial work had started, we received an even shorter answer.
This time the whole thing fit into two sentences.
"Thank you for your interest in "Linglong International Europe" d.o.o. and our business in Serbia. We would like to inform you that the operations of our company are in full compliance with the applicable laws and regulations of the Republic of Serbia", announced the company Linglong.
So we again asked for concrete answers to the questions, and they answered that they could not tell us anything.
"That company and its subcontractors have never behaved as a responsible company at any time, apart from violating laws in the field of construction, environmental protection, and human rights. One of the indicators of this irresponsibility is the refusal to communicate with the public", Ivan Živkov from the Civic Revolution organization.
However, the company communicates with potential workers through job advertisements that are open continuously.
"Ads are constantly open, but people constantly leave those places. They go to work for a few days, a few weeks, a few months, until they find a better position, and then they run away regardless," says journalist Ivana Gordić Perc.
Are only the corona virus and the war in Ukraine, or the lack of workers or something else, the reason why the Zrenjanin rubber factory is delayed for more than two years with its opening? The Chinese factory is no longer mentioned even by President Aleksandar Vučić, who for years announced it as the future of Zrenjanin, Banat and the entire country. He didn't even remember her before visiting his Chinese friends.