Brazil sues China's BYD over ‘slavery' conditions on build site
The case involved 220 Chinese workers found last December living in slavery-like conditions at a BYD construction site in Bahia. (BYD pic)
RIO DE JENAIRO : Brazilian prosecutors are suing Chinese electric car giant BYD and two contracting companies for human trafficking and alleged slave labour conditions at a build site, according to legal documents seen by AFP Thursday.
The case concerns 220 Chinese workers found last December in conditions 'analogous to slavery' at a BYD plant under construction in Camacari, in the northeastern state of Bahia.
Bahia's regional ministry for works (MPT) said in December it had found 'degrading working conditions' at the site being built as BYD's largest electric car plant outside of Asia.
Workers slept without mattresses and in one case had to share a bathroom between 31 of them, it said.
Labourers had 'visible signs of skin damage' from working long hours under the sun.
The MPT said it also suspected 'forced labour,' with illegal clauses in workers' contracts, passports confiscated and the employer withholding as much as 70% of their salary. Workers were monitored by armed guards.
After the allegations were made public, BYD's Brazilian subsidiary said it had broken its contract with the Jinjiang subsidiary responsible for work on the site.
Jinjiang denied the slavery allegation.
The MPT is now seeking 257 million reais (US$45.3 million) for 'collective moral damages,' as well as individual payments for each worker.
The civil suit against BYD, Jinjiang and Tonghe Intelligent Equipment (now Tecmonta) was filed after the companies refused to sign a 'conduct adjustment agreement' proposed by Brazilian authorities, the MPT said.
China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Thursday that Beijing 'places great importance on protecting and safeguarding workers' legitimate rights and interests,' and requires Chinese companies to 'operate in compliance with laws and regulations.'
BYD did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment Thursday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
14 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Right to Charge Part 3: Everyone has to make this a success
FOR a large portion of Malaysians, Right to Charge may seem like something that will be important in decades to come and not what we should be focused on right now - there are other more important concerns that need to be addressed. But here's the reality: the change towards electric land transportation is coming, and it is important that we drive policy in a way that would make the transition as painless as possible. This isn't about swapping internal combustion engines and fuel tanks with motors and batteries - this is a global shift to significantly improved energy efficiency that will save us money and reduce our dependence on imported fuel. Right now, out of every 100 units of energy that we consume, nearly 70 per cent goes to waste. Why? Because we're still using fire to extract work from petrol, diesel, coal, gas, and methane. It's an incredibly inefficient system that we've been stuck with forever. The time for a shift away from fire is here. Electric drive is cleaner, waste much less energy and that means it's good for all of us. Meanwhile, that small number of Malaysians who already have EVs in their garages are enjoying significant savings on their energy bills, car maintenance costs, and a dramatically better driving experience due to the much lower noise levels and superior comfort. These early adopters represent just three per cent of our market - we sold less than 30,000 electric cars in 2024 out of 850,000 total vehicles - but they're already reaping the benefits of generous tax holidays and advanced technology. The global momentum behind this transition is undeniable. The technology is maturing rapidly, with batteries now offering 1,500km driving range and charging in under six minutes. Norway's car market is nearly all electric now. China's New Energy Vehicle sales increased 31 per cent year-on-year in May, outperforming traditional cars. Even BYD, the world's largest EV maker, just announced price cuts of up to 35 per cent, making electric vehicles more affordable than conventional cars in some markets. This global shift has forced major brands like Toyota, Honda and Volkswagen to start producing electric vehicles locally in China to maintain market share. The benefit flows to consumers everywhere: cheaper electric cars for all. The question for Malaysia isn't whether this change will happen - it's whether we'll lead it or be left behind. If we jump in early we have a chance not just to help our automotive industry to transition in an orderly manner, protecting jobs and ensuring we have a stake in the technology but also give Malaysians a better opportunity to take part in a sunrise industry. In Malaysia, the infrastructure challenge represents both our biggest hurdle and our greatest opportunity. The government wants to reduce fuel subsidy, which demands RM80 billion of the country's annual budget and shifting to electric vehicles will save everyone money. Local carmakers like Proton and Perodua have the technical expertise to lead this transition and should take the lead, meanwhile property developers should get together and come up with a solution that allows for individual condominiums and apartments access to charging, without charging facilities those shiny new high-rise will become less desirable to buyers and investors. Right now progress remains frustratingly slow because the government is unsure how to move forward and this is understandable because no country, other than Norway has successfully converted their entire automotive market to electric. Even mighty China has only achieved around 35 per cent BEV penetration and this is where ordinary Malaysians must step up and make it clear that we want to enjoy this new technology as soon as possible. As with any significant social change, we need about five per cent of the population to become activists - this is typically the percentage necessary to get government to notice and act decisively on anything. Those in government who are looking ahead already know this needs attention. Some have done their research, but without clear signs from the public that we want to make the shift, progress will slow to the typical pace of government lethargy. The solution requires collective action. Ordinary Malaysian interested in an electric future should write to their Member of Parliament about the Right to Charge. We must demand that TNB offers preferential tariffs during low-demand periods for EV charging and tell property developers to integrate charging solutions into new developments and local authorities must not drag their feel when it comes to charging infrastructure approvals. We know Malaysians are savvy about saving money - solar installation allocations are snapped up immediately when available. The same energy must be directed toward securing our electric mobility future. The current window of opportunity won't remain open indefinitely. The timeline for success is clear. Within the next two years, policymakers should finalise policy papers, new legislation, and clear regulations to provide certainty for investors and consumers. In the medium term, we need a sustainable incentive structure and comprehensive regulations that allow our transition to a more energy-efficient economy, saving money for everyone, including the government. Most crucially, we need universal access to charging infrastructure within 10 years if we're serious about halving our carbon footprint and achieving net zero emissions by 2045. This includes mandating battery storage requirements for all new developments to help the country shifts to renewable energy. Energy efficiency should be a right, but it will only become a right if we demand it loudly consistently and from every corner of Malaysian society. The early adopters are already enjoying the benefits. The global momentum is unstoppable. The technology is ready. The economic case is compelling. What we need now is 5 per cent of Malaysians to stand up and make their voices heard. The infrastructure revolution that will define Malaysia's energy future for the next 50 years begins with individual citizens demanding change. Everything starts with establishing a Right to Charge framework today, and that framework will only emerge when enough Malaysians insist that the status quo is no longer acceptable. The choice is ours, and the time to choose is now.
Free Malaysia Today
14 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Asia's factory activity shrinks in May as US tariffs bite
China's manufacturing activity shrank in May for a second month in a sign of weakness in the world's second-largest economy. (BYD pic) TOKYO : Asia's factory activity shrank in May as soft demand in China and the impact of US tariffs took a heavy toll on companies, private surveys showed today, highlighting the darkening outlook for the once fast-growing region. Trade-reliant Japan and South Korea continued to see manufacturing activity contract in May as US President Donald Trump's automobile tariffs cloud the outlook for exports. Adding to the gloom, an official survey on Saturday showed China's manufacturing activity shrank in May for a second month in a sign of weakness in the world's second-largest economy. 'With many Asian economies making little progress in trade negotiations with the US, uncertainty will likely keep companies from boosting production or spending,' analysts said. 'It's hard to expect a pick-up in Asia's manufacturing activity any time soon with countries in the region slapped with quite high 'reciprocal' tariffs,' said Toru Nishihama, chief emerging market economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute. 'With domestic demand weak, China is flooding Asia with cheap exports, which is also putting deflationary pressure on the region's economies,' he said. Japan's final au Jibun Bank Manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) stood at 49.4 in May, up from April but staying below the 50.0 line that indicates contraction for the 11th successive month, a private survey showed today. The PMI for South Korea, Asia's fourth-largest economy, stood at 47.7 in May, also staying below the 50 mark for a fourth month due to frail demand and the hit from US tariffs, a survey by S&P Global showed. Both Japan and South Korea saw their economies contract in the first quarter, as Trump's tariffs and uncertainty over US trade policy weighed on exports and corporate activity. India's manufacturing growth slowed to a three-month low in May as demand softened amid price pressures and geopolitical tensions, a survey showed today. There is little sign conditions will improve. On Friday, Trump said China had violated a two-way deal to scale back tariffs, whereas China contended it had maintained communication on trade with the US. Trump also announced a doubling of worldwide steel and aluminium tariffs to 50%, once again rattling international trade. Japan and the US on Friday agreed to hold another round of trade talks ahead of the G7 summit in June, but Japan's top tariff negotiator said no deal would be reached without concessions on all US tariffs, including on automobiles.
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Man Utd sign Brazil forward Cunha from Wolves
Matheus Cunha scored 18 goals in all competitions for Wolves this season. (EPA Images pic) LONDON : Manchester United signed Brazil forward Matheus Cunha from Wolves in a deal worth a reported £62.5 million today. Cunha is expected to pen a five-year contract with the Old Trafford club, who have the option of extending the deal by a further 12 months. 'Manchester United has reached agreement with Wolverhampton Wanderers for the signing of Matheus Cunha,' a United statement said. 'Everyone at Manchester United looks forward to welcoming Matheus to Old Trafford.' The 26-year-old was in Manchester over the weekend to put the finishing touches to his move, which is subject to a visa and registration. Cunha, who has won 13 caps for Brazil, scored 18 goals in all competitions for Wolves this season, winning the club's player of the year award. The Brazilian finished his Wolves career with 33 goals in 92 appearances in all competitions after signing from Atletico Madrid in January 2023. United activated the release clause in Cunha's Wolves contract to ensure he becomes boss Ruben Amorim's first signing of the summer transfer window. Wolves said the deal was a club-record fee received as they thanked Cunha 'for his contributions in old gold' in a statement confirming his departure. Cunha will join up with Brazil ahead of Friday's World Cup qualifier against Ecuador, which will be Carlo Ancelotti's first game in charge of the Selecao. Amorim's side lost the Europa League final against Tottenham to cap a dismal season featuring a 15th place finish in the Premier League that ranked as their lowest final position since 1973-74. Cunha will add his predatory instincts and creative guile to a United attack that struggled throughout this season. United's lack of cutting edge was evident yet again when they failed to find a solution to Tottenham's defensive tactics in the Europa League final. Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo has also been linked with United, whose transfer business has been made harder by their failure to qualify for the Champions League. 'We have a plan that is to bring some new players, of course, but our big plan is to improve the team that we have, it's to improve our academy because I think that is the future. It was the past, so it can be the future,' Amorim said on United's recent post-season tour to Asia. 'It's not going to change so much because we have the fair play financial rules. We are not allowed to do much in this summer… so we are prepared for that.'
