The Chinese manufacturer BYD is accused that workers at one of its factories in Brazil are victims of human trafficking. The accusations were made by the Brazilian state itself.
Chinese workers at a construction site in Brazil for a factory owned by Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD are victims of human trafficking, Brazilian authorities said, according to Reuters.
BYD and contractor Jinjiang Group have agreed to assist and house the 163 workers in hotels until an agreement is reached to end their contracts, Brazil’s Labor Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement after meeting with representatives of both firms. The statement did not provide details on how prosecutors came to the conclusion that the workers were working in poor conditions.
China’s influence is growing in Brazil
BYD initially said it had cut ties with Jinjiang, but a BYD executive later accused “foreign forces” and some Chinese media outlets of “deliberately defaming Chinese brands and the country and undermining the relationship between China and Brazil”.
A settlement could exempt BYD and Jinjiang from an investigation by prosecutors, but they could still be scrutinized by labor inspectors and federal prosecutors, who have requested the sharing of evidence “so that criminal action can be taken.” “, the statement reads.
BYD built the factory to produce 150,000 cars initially as part of plans to start production in Brazil early next year. Almost one in five BYD cars sold outside China in the first 11 months of 2024 was made in Brazil.
The factory has become a symbol of China’s growing influence in Brazil and an example of a closer relationship between both countries. BYD invested $620 million just to set up the Bahia factory complex.
Source: www.promotor.ro
