Brazilian prosecutors have rescued over 160 Chinese citizens from “slavery-like conditions” while working on a factory project for the Chinese automaker BYD in Bahia’s northeastern state. The workers, who were building a facility for BYD, were subjected to degrading working conditions, including sleeping without mattresses and no personal storage space.
According to reports, the Public Works Ministry found that workers were kept in precarious situations with only one toilet for every 31 workers. Their passports had also been confiscated, and 60% of their salary was retained by the company. The ministry suspected forced labor, as those who quit would be forced to pay the company for airfare from China.
BYD has broken ties with its contractor, Jinjiang Construction Brazil, and is reviewing conditions at the site to make adjustments. As a result, the 163 workers were immediately transferred to hotels in the region while they stay there. BYD stated that it does not tolerate violations of Brazilian law or human dignity.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/brazil-chinese-workers-found-in-slave-like-conditions/a-71155861