Dozens of Chinese workers found by Brazilian authorities in poor conditions at a construction site for electric vehicle automaker BYD have been taken to hotels, according to local prosecutors. The laborers are suspected of being victims of human trafficking and living in “slavery-like” conditions under contractor Jinjiang Group.
The discovery was made by the Bahia state Labor Prosecutor’s Office, which found 163 workers at the construction site without proper papers or working permits. Authorities have since placed them in hotels in Camacari, a city in northeastern Brazil.
A video from the prosecutor’s office showed workers living in dorms with beds without mattresses and basic cooking facilities. BYD, the Chinese automaker, has said it will “immediately terminate” its contract with Jinjiang Group and is investigating further measures.
However, BYD has denied reports of poor working conditions at the site, saying they are part of a smear campaign against China and Chinese brands. The workers’ whereabouts after being taken to hotels are unclear, but local residents reported that many had already left the town.
The construction site, where the factory is expected to start production next year, has been the subject of an investigation by Brazilian authorities.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/brazil-byd-chinese-workers-trafficking-48df18be2cd85ff1b96e972fc4c8cbbf