Electric vehicle manufacturer BYD is under investigation in Brazil after hundreds of Chinese workers were brought into the country on irregular visas to work on a factory construction in Bahia, with many found in "slavery-like conditions," according to labor authorities, Reuters reports.
According to Reuters, electric vehicle producer BYD (Build Your Dreams) faces scrutiny in Brazil after hundreds of Chinese workers were brought into the country on irregular visas, according to a key labor inspector. The workers, who were employed to build a factory in Bahia, were found to be in what Brazilian authorities described as “slavery-like conditions.”
Liane Durao, a labor inspector with Brazil’s Ministry of Labour, told Reuters that 163 workers employed by BYD’s contractor, Jinjiang Group, were rescued in December after authorities discovered they had been working under illegal and abusive conditions. The workers were subsequently sent back to China, with the contractor agreeing to cover the costs of their return.
BYD, which has invested $620 million in its Bahia factory to produce electric vehicles for the Brazilian market, has pledged to comply with Brazilian labor laws for the workers who will remain in the country. Durao confirmed that the company had committed to improving working conditions to meet local standards.
The labor inspector also noted that BYD would be fined for each worker found in violation of the country’s labor regulations, although the total amount of the fine has not been disclosed.
While BYD has denied the allegations and claims the visas were issued properly, the investigation into labor violations has raised concerns about working conditions in Chinese-owned enterprises abroad. The probe into BYD could complicate Brazil's relationship with China, which has become a major investor in the country.
Labor authorities are continuing to monitor the situation, ensuring that no remaining workers are subjected to exploitation as the investigation progresses. The case highlights broader issues surrounding foreign investment in Brazil and local job creation, a priority for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The European Commission will delay presenting its next Russia sanctions package, European Union officials said on Tuesday, as the bloc searches for a ...
Flash floods unleashed by a sudden cloudburst in India’s Himalayan state of Uttarakhand on Tuesday (September 16) swept away villages and marketplac...
Spain’s Foreign Ministry announced it will summon Israel’s charge d’affaires on Tuesday to protest remarks made by Israeli Foreign Minister Gide...
Russian Tu-160 bombers practised launching cruise missiles over the Barents Sea on Tuesday during joint military drills with Belarus, as part of the Z...
Large plumes of smoke were rising in Gaza on Tuesday (September 16) morning, as Israeli military confirm that it had begun "dismantling Hamas terroris...
Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD is set to begin local assembly operations in Pakistan by mid-2026, marking a significant step in the country’s transition toward electric mobility.
As the global race for dominance in autonomous vehicles accelerates, China’s auto and tech industries are fast emerging as a serious threat to Tesla’s leadership in self-driving technology.
Chinese EV maker BYD has unveiled its budget-friendly Dolphin Surf in Berlin, intensifying competition in Europe's electric car market with prices starting at just €19,990.
Chinese automakers like BYD are launching fast‑charging EV systems to address one of the biggest hurdles to wider electric vehicle adoption: long charging times. Many drivers worry that their EV batteries could run out during long trips, so rapid recharging is seen as a critical selling point.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
At least eight people have died and more than 90 others were injured following a catastrophic gas tanker explosion on a major highway in Mexico City’s Iztapalapa district on Wednesday, authorities confirmed.
The founding family of Italiana Petroli is close to finalising the sale of the oil refiner to the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), in a deal that would give the Azerbaijani group control of one of Italy’s largest petrol station networks, three sources have said.
India's retail inflation (INCPIY=ECI) rose to 2.07% in August as food prices edged up, although it remained within the central bank's tolerance range for the tenth consecutive month.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) said Wednesday that it now believes “some data has been affected” after a cyberattack forced the company to shut down operations last Tuesday. Staff have been instructed to work from home since the incident.
Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison has overtaken Tesla Chief Elon Musk as the world’s richest person after a surge in the company’s stock lifted his net worth to $393 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
China has launched its first review of its foreign trade law since 2004, signalling a potential shift in how the country manages international commerce amid rising global trade tensions.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment