Brazil considers labor violations at BYD plant ‘human trafficking’

Chinese auto giant BYD says it has terminated a contract with a company that hired some workers to build its factory. Photo: Ina FASSBENDER / AFP/File
Source: AFP

Brazilian authorities said on Friday they were investigating Chinese auto giant BYD and one of its contractors for allegedly “trafficking” Chinese workers building a factory in the South American country.

Federal prosecutors in Brazil are weighing possible criminal charges after labor inspectors found 163 Chinese workers “in slave-like conditions” at a construction site in the northeastern state of Bahia, the government said in a statement.

The workers, hired by BYD contractor Jinjiang Open Engineering, were believed to be “victims of international human trafficking for labor exploitation,” the statement said.

Mao Ning, spokeswoman for China’s foreign ministry in Beijing, said: “We have taken into account the relevant reports… and are currently investigating the situation.”

She added that Beijing “attaches the protection of the legitimate rights and interests of workers and has always required Chinese enterprises to operate in accordance with the law and regulations.”

On Thursday, Brazilian government ministries asked BYD and Jinjiang, which said “the companies have committed to cooperate in protecting the rescued workers.”

The accusation was denied

Brazilian officials said on Monday they had discovered labor violations at a site being built as BYD’s largest electric car factory outside Asia.

The Regional Ministry of Works of Bahia (MPT) has ordered the suspension of construction on part of the site.

Inspections since November found “degrading working conditions” at the site, including beds in workers’ quarters without mattresses and one bathroom for 31 workers, MPT said in a statement.

The workers, who spent long hours under the Brazilian sun, had “visible signs of skin damage,” the statement said.

The MPT added that it suspected “forced labor” where workers’ passports were confiscated and their employer “withheld 60 percent of their wages.”

After the allegations were made public, BYD’s Brazilian subsidiary said it had terminated the contract with the Jinjiang subsidiary responsible for work at the facility. He added that he sent 163 workers to stay in hotels.