Last month, local officials in Bahia, Brazil, discovered 163 Chinese workers at the construction site of BYD’s new factory who were working under conditions described as “slave-like.” These workers were employed by BYD’s contractor, “Golden Craftsmen.” The workers’ living conditions were shocking: some slept on beds without mattresses, a few dozen people shared a single bathroom, and they worked 7 days a week. Prosecutors have characterized the workers as “victims of human trafficking.” Investigators reported that the company had confiscated the passports of 107 employees, and many workers had their wages withheld.
On January 7, a key labor inspector revealed that BYD brought hundreds of Chinese workers to Brazil using non-compliant visas. Brazil has long sought increased Chinese investment, but China’s “Beijing model” brings its own workers to host countries, which poses challenges to creating local employment opportunities.
Source: VOA, January 8, 2025
https://www.voachinese.com/a/byd-brought-hundreds-of-chinese-workers-to-brazil-on-irregular-visas-inspector-20250108/7929229.html