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The Independent
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Brazilian prosecutors sue China's BYD over allegations of slave-like labor conditions
Brazilian prosecutors said Tuesday they are suing Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD and two of its contractors over allegations of using workers in slave-like labor conditions and engaging in international human trafficking. The labor prosecutors' office in Bahia state said in a statement that they are seeking 257 million Brazilian reais ($50 million) in damages from BYD, China JinJiang Construction Brazil and Tecmonta Equipamentos Inteligentes. The lawsuit stems from an investigation that led to the rescue last year of 220 Chinese workers from the construction site of BYD's new factory in the city of Camaçari. Prosecutors said the workers were brought to Brazil under false pretenses and with visas that did not match their jobs. 'Working conditions were extremely degrading. Five settlements were kept by BYD, JinJiang and Tecmonta. Some workers slept on beds without mattresses and had their personal belongings alongside with their food,' the prosecutors' office said. 'There were few bathrooms, which were not gender-assigned. In one of the settlements, there was one toilet for 31 people, forcing workers to wake up at 4 a.m. for their personal hygiene before their work.' BYD said in a statement it is collaborating with the investigations from the start and will speak about the case during the course of the probe. It also said it respects Brazil's laws and international labor regulations. In December, a spokesperson for the Chinese automaker objected to reports about poor conditions at the construction site in Brazil, saying the allegations were aimed at 'smearing' China and Chinese brands.
Bloomberg
28-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Brazil Sues EV Giant BYD Over ‘Slavery' Conditions at Plant
Brazilian labor prosecutors are suing Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD Co. and two contractors over allegations of slave labor and human trafficking at the construction site of a manufacuturing plant. The lawsuit describes 'degrading' conditions at facilities in Bahia maintained by BYD, China JinJiang Construction Brazil and Tonghe Equipamentos Inteligentes do Brasil Co. — currently named Tecmonta Equipamentos Inteligentes Brasil Co. It also alleges irregularities with the visas used to bring the workers into Brazil and the confiscation of their passports.
Al Jazeera
27-05-2025
- Business
- Al Jazeera
Brazilian prosecutors sue Chinese carmaker BYD over labour conditions
Brazilian labour prosecutors have filed a lawsuit against the Chinese auto manufacturer BYD and two contractors over allegations of illegally trafficking labourers to live and work under conditions 'analogous to slavery'. On Tuesday, the prosecutors, charged with enforcing labour laws, said in a statement that they would seek 257 million reais ($45m) in damages from BYD as well as contractors China JinJiang Construction Brazil and Tecmonta Equipamentos Inteligentes. They accused the three companies of trafficking Chinese workers to build a BYD plant in Camacari, in the northeastern state of Bahia. There, the prosecutors allege that the companies subjected the workers to 'extremely degrading' conditions. 'In December last year, 220 Chinese workers were found to be in conditions analogous to slavery and victims of international human trafficking,' the statement said. The damages the prosecutors are seeking amount to a penalty of 50,000 reais ($8,867) per violation, multiplied by the number of workers affected, in addition to moral damages. The lawsuit is the result of a police raid in December 2024, during which authorities say they 'rescued' 163 Chinese workers from Jinjiang and 57 from Tecmonta. The prosecutors say the workers were victims of international human trafficking and were brought to Brazil with visas that did not fit their jobs. They also allege that conditions at the construction site left the labourers almost totally dependent on their employers, by withholding up to 70 percent of their wages and imposing high contract termination costs. Some of the workers even had their passports taken away, limiting their ability to leave, according to the prosecutors. The lawsuit also describes meagre living conditions, including some beds without mattresses. 'In one dormitory, only one toilet was identified for use by 31 people, forcing workers to wake up around 4am to wash themselves before starting their workday,' the prosecutors' statement notes. Brazil is the largest market for BYD outside China. The Chinese auto giant has said that it is committed to human rights, is cooperating with authorities and will respond to the lawsuit in court. A spokesman for the company said in December that allegations of poor working conditions were part of an effort to 'smear' China and Chinese companies. But the Brazilian labour prosecutors rejected the notion that their lawsuit was based on anti-Chinese sentiment. 'Our lawsuit is very well-founded, with a substantial amount of evidence provided during the investigation process,' deputy labour prosecutor Fabio Leal said in an interview. He stated that the workers, who have all returned to China, would receive any payments related to the lawsuit there, with the companies in Brazil responsible for providing proof of payment.
Washington Post
27-05-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Brazilian prosecutors sue China's BYD over allegations of slave-like labor conditions
SAO PAULO — Brazilian prosecutors said Tuesday they are suing Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD and two of its contractors over allegations of using workers in slave-like labor conditions and engaging in international human trafficking. The labor prosecutors' office in Bahia state said in a statement that they are seeking 257 million Brazilian reais ($50 million) in damages from BYD, China JinJiang Construction Brazil and Tecmonta Equipamentos Inteligentes.
Associated Press
27-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Brazilian prosecutors sue China's BYD over allegations of slave-like labor conditions
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazilian prosecutors said Tuesday they are suing Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD and two of its contractors over allegations of using workers in slave-like labor conditions and engaging in international human trafficking. The labor prosecutors' office in Bahia state said in a statement that they are seeking 257 million Brazilian reais ($50 million) in damages from BYD, China JinJiang Construction Brazil and Tecmonta Equipamentos Inteligentes. The lawsuit stems from an investigation that led to the rescue last year of 220 Chinese workers from the construction site of BYD's new factory in the city of Camaçari. Prosecutors said the workers were brought to Brazil under false pretenses and with visas that did not match their jobs. 'Working conditions were extremely degrading. Five settlements were kept by BYD, JinJiang and Tecmonta. Some workers slept on beds without mattresses and had their personal belongings alongside with their food,' the prosecutors' office said. 'There were few bathrooms, which were not gender-assigned. In one of the settlements, there was one toilet for 31 people, forcing workers to wake up at 4 a.m. for their personal hygiene before their work.' BYD did not comment after a request from The Associated Press. In December, a spokesperson for the Chinese automaker objected to reports about poor conditions at the construction site in Brazil, saying the allegations were aimed at 'smearing' China and Chinese brands.
