Brazilian authorities have discovered 163 Chinese nationals working in dire labor conditions at a factory owned by Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD in Bahia state. The workers were brought to Brazil irregularly and subjected to long hours, exceeding those allowed by Brazilian law, often for seven days a week.
The workers faced degrading conditions, including debt bondage, forced labor, and withholding of passports. They required permission from their employer to leave their lodgings, highlighting the severity of the situation. BYD has stated that it severed ties with the firm that hired the workers and is cooperating with authorities.
According to Brazilian labor laws, “slavery-like conditions” encompass not only forced labor but also debt bondage, poor working conditions, long hours posing health risks, and work that violates human dignity. The discovery was made by labor inspector Liane Durao, who noted that minimum safety standards were not being met at the factory.
An ongoing operation is underway, with fines yet to be issued. BYD has committed to providing assistance to the workers involved, but details about their employment status remain unclear due to the lack of disclosure from authorities regarding the firms involved in hiring them.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/24/business/byd-brazil-chinese-workers-conditions-intl/index.html