The other side of the world's largest EV maker: China's Byd sued by Brazil for slave-like conditions at its plant

Brazilian prosecutors are suing Chinese electric car company BYD and two other companies. The other two companies are China JinJiang Construction Brazil and Tecmonta Equipamentos Inteligentes, as per reports.

They are accused of using workers in slave-like conditions and doing international human trafficking. The prosecutors want 257 million Brazilian ($50 million) reais in damages from the three companies. The case started after an investigation that found 220 Chinese workers in bad conditions last year, according to an AP news report.

As per the reports, these workers were rescued from a construction site for BYD’s new factory in Camacari city, Brazil. Prosecutors said the workers were brought from China with wrong visas and were tricked about their jobs. The workers were living in very poor and degrading conditions.


The companies had five worker camps, where conditions were bad. Some workers slept on beds without mattresses and kept food next to their personal items. There were not enough bathrooms, and they were not separated for men and women, as stated in the reports.

In one place, there was only 1 toilet for 31 people, so workers had to wake up at 4 a.m. just to get ready. BYD said it is working with the investigation and will talk more as the case goes on. The company said it follows Brazilian laws and international labor rules, according to an AP news report.

In December, a BYD spokesperson said reports about bad conditions were trying to make China and Chinese brands look bad, as per reports.

FAQs

Q1. Why is BYD being sued in Brazil?
It's over claims of using Chinese workers in slave like conditions.

Q2. Where were the workers found?
At a BYD factory construction site in Camacari, Brazil.