Lawsuit Filed Against BYD for Alleged Labor Violations in Brazil

Sao Paulo, May 27 (AP) Brazilian prosecutors announced on Tuesday that they have filed a lawsuit against Chinese electric vehicle company BYD and two of its contractors over allegations of employing workers under slave-like conditions and engaging in international human trafficking.

The Bahia state labor prosecutors’ office revealed that they are demanding 257 million Brazilian reais (approximately USD 50 million) in damages from BYD, along with their contractors China JinJiang Construction Brazil and Tecmonta Equipamentos Inteligentes.

The lawsuit emerged from an investigation conducted last year, which resulted in the rescue of 220 Chinese workers from the construction site of BYD's upcoming factory in Camaçari.

Prosecutors indicated that the workers had been deceived into coming to Brazil under false pretenses, with visas that did not correspond to their actual jobs.

“The working conditions were horrifically degrading. BYD, JinJiang, and Tecmonta maintained five settlements where workers slept on beds without mattresses and stored their personal belongings alongside their food,” stated the prosecutors’ office.

They added, “Bathroom facilities were scarce and non-gender-specific, with one location having a single toilet for 31 people, forcing workers to wake up as early as 4 a.m. to tend to personal hygiene before work.”

BYD declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press.

Previously, in December, a spokesperson for the Chinese automaker refuted claims regarding poor conditions at the Brazilian construction site, suggesting the allegations were an attempt to tarnish the reputation of China and Chinese brands.

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