BYD brought hundreds of Chinese workers to Brazil on irregular visas, inspector says

January 9

STORY: Electric vehicle producer BYD brought hundreds of Chinese workers on irregular visas to build a factory in Brazil, according to a key labor inspector.

They told Reuters that the company has pledged to comply with local labor laws for the workers remaining in the country.

A total of 163 of those workers, hired by BYD contractor Jinjiang, were found last month to be working in what Brazilian authorities said were “slavery-like conditions.”

The 163 workers who were rescued by authorities in December are leaving or have already left Brazil.

The firm has reportedly agreed to adjust the conditions of the hundreds of workers who will remain in the country.

The inspector said about 500 Chinese workers in total were brought to work in the Brazilian factory.

BYD and Jinjiang did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

BYD has previously said it cut ties with Jinjiang, which disputes the charges by Brazilian authorities.

A person close to BYD told Reuters that the Chinese company believes the visas were issued properly.

The factory has become a symbol of China’s growing influence in Brazil.

BYD has been building the faciilty to produce 150,000 cars initially as part of plans to start production in Brazil, its biggest market outside China.

The probe has also brought unwelcome attention to BYD when it is seeking to expand globally and build on its dominance in China, the world’s largest auto market.

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