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The construction of a factory for the Chinese electric vehicle company BYD has been suspended by Brazilian authorities after they discovered over 160 Chinese nationals residing in “slavery-like” conditions. The laborers, stationed at a construction site in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia, were found to be working in degrading conditions for an inordinate amount of time, occasionally for seven consecutive days.
The laborers, employed by a contractor named Jinjiang Construction Brazil, were reportedly unable to leave without authorization, and more than 100 of them had their passports confiscated. These laborers were recruited in China and brought to Brazil to work on the construction site.
The site had been under investigation by the public labor prosecutor’s office since November. During a news conference on Monday, the local labor prosecutor’s office stated, “We discovered that the work of these 163 workers was performed in conditions reminiscent of slavery.” They also mentioned that the work environment did not meet minimum safety standards.
In Brazil, slavery-like conditions include forced labor, dehumanizing work conditions, excessively long hours that jeopardize the health of workers, debt bondage, and any work that violates human dignity.
The investigation revealed that over 600 employees were forced to sleep on cots without mattresses and share eight portable restrooms that were in a deplorable state, lacking toilet paper and water. Food was stored unsafely and in close proximity to restrooms due to a lack of kitchen space. Prepared meals were found on the floor, exposed to dirt, and unrefrigerated. Most employees had to eat their meals while lying on their mattresses.
The prosecutors described the living conditions as displaying an alarming level of degradation and precariousness. In response to these findings, BYD stated that it does not tolerate disrespect for Brazilian law or human dignity and promptly terminated the contract with Jinjiang for a portion of the factory’s work. The company also pledged to consider other appropriate measures.
BYD, meaning “Build Your Dreams,” was founded in 1995 as a battery manufacturer but has since become one of the world’s leading electric vehicle manufacturers. Headquartered in Pingshan, near Shenzhen, the company is led by Wang Chuanfu, often referred to as China’s Elon Musk.
BYD announced that all employees would be relocated to hotels in the area, and the company would conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the living and working conditions of all employees working on the project through contractors.
The company emphasized that it has been operating in Brazil for ten years, consistently adhering to local laws and maintaining a commitment to human dignity, respect, and integrity. BYD reaffirmed its dedication to upholding these values in all aspects of its operations.
