Dozens of Chinese workers have been taken and put up in hotels in Brazil’s tropical northeastern region after local labor authorities found them at a construction site for electric vehicle automaker BYD.

Summary

Brazilian authorities discovered 163 Chinese workers allegedly living in “slavery-like conditions” at a BYD electric vehicle factory construction site in Camacari.

Prosecutors suspect human trafficking under contractor Jinjiang Group, citing poor living conditions such as mattress-less beds and inadequate cooking facilities.

BYD terminated its contract with the contractor but dismissed the allegations as a smear campaign against Chinese brands.

The workers have been moved to hotels, but their current whereabouts remain unclear as investigations continue. BYD’s factory is set to begin production next year.

  • snekerpimp@lemmy.worldEnglish
    14·
    21 days ago

    I mean, they are undercutting everyone on price on their cars. How else are they going to reach those prices without exploiting their workers.

    • rockSlayer@lemmy.worldEnglish
      53·
      21 days ago

      The Western car brands do this too, but instead of making things cheap they keep the price for ICE cars for even more profit.