Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker BYD sends workers to Brazil on “irregular visas,” subjecting them to what Brazilian inspectors describe as “slave-like conditions.” He is being investigated for being detained.
Brazilian government stopped Work visas were granted to BYD last month after 163 Chinese people were rescued from dire conditions at a BYD factory under construction in Kamakari city.
The Brazilian public prosecutor's office announced on December 23 that construction work on the factory had been halted following the discovery. According to local inspectors, BYD contracted with a company called Jinjiang Group to work in “poor” conditions, live in unsanitary dormitories, and receive more than half of their wages under threat of severe retaliation if they tried to quit. They had contracts to import deprived workers.
Brazilian inspectors deemed these conditions akin to “forced labor” and described the Chinese workers as victims of “international human trafficking.”
On Tuesday, labor inspectors said About 500 Chinese workers were brought to Brazil by Jinjiang contractors using “irregular visas,” according to Reuters.
Lian Durao, the lead investigator in the BYD case, said all of these workers have left or are on their way to leaving Brazil.
Durao said BYD will be subject to fines for all workers it employs in violation of Brazil's labor laws, but the total amount of the fines will not be disclosed.
BYD insisted it had done nothing wrong and initially claimed to be severing ties with Jinjiang, but later BYD executives said fired The entire slave labor saga is a despicable effort by “foreign powers” to smear Chinese companies and undermine “China-Brazil relations.”
BYD invested about $620 million in the Kamakari plant, which was scheduled to start producing 150,000 vehicles a year in 2025. The company has not said whether the current controversy will delay the factory's opening date.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China said On Wednesday, the Chinese government called on all companies operating overseas to comply with local labor laws.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said, “As we have repeatedly emphasized, the Chinese government attaches great importance to protecting the legitimate rights and interests of workers, and requires companies to “We have long called for compliance with laws and regulations,” he said.
“China stands ready to continue to cooperate with Brazil on the basis of the principles of equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, and further strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields,” Guo said.
