Brazil Halts BYD Electric Vehicle Plant Construction in Camaçari After 163 Workers Found in Slavery-Like Conditions

Dec 24, 2024, 07:10 AM

Brazilian authorities have uncovered 163 Chinese workers employed in 'slavery-like conditions' at a construction site for an electric vehicle factory owned by Chinese automaker BYD in Bahia state. The workers were found during a joint operation by the Ministry of Labor and the Federal Police, which led to the immediate halt of construction activities at the site in Camaçari. The labor prosecutor's office reported that the workers were subjected to illegal and excessively long hours, living in poor conditions. In response to the findings, BYD has severed ties with the construction firm responsible for the site, Jinjang, and stated its commitment to ensuring the rights of subcontracted workers. The factory was expected to be operational by March 2025, but these developments have raised serious concerns regarding labor practices in the region.