A total of 163 employees worked under what authorities are calling slave-like conditions at a Chinese BYD factory in Brazil. The discovery has already had consequences.
Brazilian authorities have revealed that 163 employees worked in conditions described as slave-like at a factory affiliated with Chinese carmaker BYD.
The factory, which is under construction, has drawn widespread criticism of the company's partners and practices in Brazil.
The factory was operated by workers allegedly recruited in China by an external company and then illegally transported to Brazil. Over 100 of the employees had their passports taken away, making it impossible for them to leave the workplace, according to authorities.
Official reports describe conditions at the construction site as severely inadequate. Workers lived directly on site in primitive facilities, often without mattresses on their beds. In one case, it was documented that 31 people shared one bathroom.
This is reported by the BBC .
Conditions that meant that many had to get up before dawn to access the limited facilities before the workday began.
Due to the conditions at the construction site, the authorities in Brazil have decided to ban the construction of the factory, which is being carried out by the contractor company Jinjiang Construction.
The company has been banned from continuing its activities, and the workers are now not allowed to do anything, even though many of them are still at the construction site.
Brazilian officials plan to meet with representatives from BYD and Jinjiang Construction to discuss the issue and find a solution. The meeting, authorities say, will take place before the New Year.
BYD already has a strong presence in the Brazilian market. The plant in question is scheduled to open next year and contribute to the company's production in the region.
In a statement, Alexandre Baldy, Vice President of BYD in Brazil, said the company is committed to complying with Brazilian law and ensuring workers' rights. Baldy stressed that BYD does not tolerate any situation that violates the law.
The case raises questions about BYD's responsibility as the lead actor in the project and its choice of partners. It is unclear how the incident will affect the company's future plans in Brazil.
The controversy comes at a time when the relationship between China and Brazil is of significant economic interest. The episode could potentially have consequences for future collaborations between the two countries, especially in the manufacturing sector.
