Brazil has stopped issuing temporary work visas for BYD the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday, in the wake of accusations that some workers at a site owned by the Chinese electric vehicle producer had been victims of human trafficking.
The announcement came days after labor authorities said they found 163 Chinese workers who had been brought to Brazil irregularly in "slavery-like" conditions at the BYD factory construction site in the northeastern state of Bahia.
The workers were employed by contractor Jinjiang Group, which has denied any wrongdoing.
Later, the authorities also said the workers were victims of human trafficking. According to the foreign ministry, the workers entered Brazil on temporary work visas.
The factory has become a symbol of China's growing influence in the South American nation and an example of a closer relationship between both countries. BYD has invested $620 million to set up the Bahia factory complex alone.
Brazil is the biggest overseas market for BYD, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the ministry's decision.
The Chinese EV maker has said it plans to start production in Brazil early next year with an initial annual output of 150,000 cars.
Brazil's Ministry of Justice said in a separate statement on Friday that if irregularities found by prosecutors in the BYD factory are confirmed, it would revoke the residence permits it had issued to the Chinese workers.
The Ministry of Justice had already sent a request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to suspend BYD temporary visa issuance on Dec. 20, three days before the labor authorities' findings were made public, according to a source with knowledge of the communication.
The order was then forwarded to Brazil's embassy in Beijing, the source added.
In a social media post on Thursday - reposted by a BYD spokesperson, Jinjiang Group - rejected the Brazilian authorities' accusations about the work conditions at the Bahia site.
The contractor said the portrayal of the workers as "enslaved" was inaccurate and that there had been translation misunderstandings.
BYD and Jinjiang Group have agreed to assist and house the 163 workers in hotels until a deal to end their contracts is reached, the Brazilian Labor Prosecutor's Office said in a statement on Thursday, after meeting representatives from both firms.
Nearly one in five cars BYD sold outside of China in the first 11 months of 2024 was in Brazil.
Brasília, Brazil, February 20, 2025 – Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva reaffirmed his country’s neutrality in the Ukraine conflict by rejecting a request from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to purchase Brazilian arms for Kyiv.
Brasília, Brazil, February 18, 2025 – Brazil’s government has approved joining OPEC+, a group of major oil-exporting nations, signaling a significant step in the country’s evolution into a prominent oil state.
Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro was charged on Tuesday for allegedly plotting to overturn his 2022 election defeat. The indictment adds to the far-right leader’s legal troubles, further complicating his political future.
**Fatal Crash** A small plane crashed in Brazil's Sao Paulo state, resulting in two fatalities. The crash occurred in the municipality of Quadra, about 100 miles from the state capital.
20 people injured following a fire in a costume factory in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Kenyan President William Ruto have called for an immediate ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) amid escalating violence. Their appeal follows the capture of key cities by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group.
U.S. negotiators have reportedly raised the possibility of cutting Ukraine’s access to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet system as part of pressure to secure a critical minerals deal. The discussions come amid growing tensions between Kyiv and Washington over repayment for wartime aid.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that Kyiv and Washington are working on an economic deal, but tensions remain over U.S. demands and Ukraine’s exclusion from U.S.-Russia peace talks.
The United States has put forward a draft United Nations resolution marking the third anniversary of the Ukraine war, setting up a clash with Kyiv and European allies who have been negotiating their own text for a General Assembly vote on Monday.
Desperate residents in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, are facing severe cash shortages as banks remain shut following the M23 rebel group’s seizure of the city. With no access to their funds, many are struggling to afford food, electricity, and basic necessities.
A tragic crowd crush at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night left 18 dead and 10 injured as thousands of people, many heading to the Kumbh Mela festival, attempted to board delayed trains. The incident highlights the ongoing risks of overcrowding at public transportation hubs in India.
A Delta Air Lines regional jet flipped upside down upon landing at Toronto Pearson Airport on Monday, injuring 18 people. Officials are investigating whether strong winds and snow played a role in the incident.
Berlin, February 21, 2025 – German citizens will head to the polls on Sunday, February 23, for a snap general election after the coalition government collapsed late last year.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Kenyan President William Ruto have called for an immediate ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) amid escalating violence. Their appeal follows the capture of key cities by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group.
U.S. negotiators have reportedly raised the possibility of cutting Ukraine’s access to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet system as part of pressure to secure a critical minerals deal. The discussions come amid growing tensions between Kyiv and Washington over repayment for wartime aid.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that Kyiv and Washington are working on an economic deal, but tensions remain over U.S. demands and Ukraine’s exclusion from U.S.-Russia peace talks.
The United States has put forward a draft United Nations resolution marking the third anniversary of the Ukraine war, setting up a clash with Kyiv and European allies who have been negotiating their own text for a General Assembly vote on Monday.
Desperate residents in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, are facing severe cash shortages as banks remain shut following the M23 rebel group’s seizure of the city. With no access to their funds, many are struggling to afford food, electricity, and basic necessities.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Kenyan President William Ruto have called for an immediate ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) amid escalating violence. Their appeal follows the capture of key cities by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group.
U.S. negotiators have reportedly raised the possibility of cutting Ukraine’s access to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet system as part of pressure to secure a critical minerals deal. The discussions come amid growing tensions between Kyiv and Washington over repayment for wartime aid.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that Kyiv and Washington are working on an economic deal, but tensions remain over U.S. demands and Ukraine’s exclusion from U.S.-Russia peace talks.
The United States has put forward a draft United Nations resolution marking the third anniversary of the Ukraine war, setting up a clash with Kyiv and European allies who have been negotiating their own text for a General Assembly vote on Monday.
Desperate residents in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, are facing severe cash shortages as banks remain shut following the M23 rebel group’s seizure of the city. With no access to their funds, many are struggling to afford food, electricity, and basic necessities.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment