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 involvement of Yemen’s Houthis has heightened regional tensions as the Iran-aligned group joins the conflict. The U.S. says it is hopeful...
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said his government will absorb a 56bn-rupee fuel subsidy to shield people from rising energy costs link...
Austria’s government on Friday approved plans to introduce a nationwide ban on social media use for children under the age of 14, alongside r...
Nepal’s ousted former prime minister, KP Sharma Oli, and former home minister Ramesh Lekhak have been arrested over alleged negligence linked...
China is moving ahead with plans to establish a nationwide long-term care insurance system, aimed at supporting its rapidly ageing population and e...
Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD is pushing to make charging an electric car almost as quick and convenient as filling up a traditional petrol vehicle - a move that could help remove one of the biggest barriers to wider electric vehicle adoption.
Tesla delivered 1.64 million vehicles in 2025, down 9%, as BYD becomes the top EV maker.
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD Co expects exports to account for around 20% of its global sales this year, supported by the launch of new models, the South China Morning Post reported on Monday.
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.
The foreign ministers of the G7 group of nations on Friday called for an immediate stop to attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in the Iran war.
The involvement of Yemen’s Houthis has heightened regional tensions as the Iran-aligned group joins the conflict. The U.S. says it is hopeful of holding talks with Iran in the coming days, while Tehran has said that "talking and bombing is intolerable". Welcome to our live coverage of the conflict.
France has rejected claims that South Africa was dropped from the guest list for this year’s G7 summit under pressure from United States, insisting the decision to invite Kenya was its own.
Two months after Indian negotiators worked in January to secure relief from punitive U.S. tariffs on the country’s exports and New Delhi moved to cut back its purchases of Russian crude oil, India and Russia are stepping up their energy ties once again, according to Reuters.
Turkish military personnel participating in NATO’s mission in Iraq have been “successfully” withdrawn from the country, the Turkish Defence Ministry announced on Thursday.
Petrol price spikes triggered by the war in Iran are boosting used electric vehicle sales across Europe, online car platforms told Reuters, in an early sign that pain at the pump is pushing consumers away from combustion engines.
Meta Platforms is increasing compensation for top executives, including its first-ever offer of stock options, as it tries to fend off competition in the artificial intelligence (AI) race and incentivize leaders to stay with the company for several years.
The French government’s bid to suspend the marketplace of Chinese online retailer Shein in the country has been overruled by a Paris Court of Appeal.
The prevailing security situation in the region has done little to deter entrepreneurs from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) who continue to view Dubai as a premier and safe location for business.
China has raised the retail prices of petrol and diesel after global oil prices climbed sharply. The country’s top economic planning body, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), announced the move after reviewing international oil market trends.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment