TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Brazilian prosecutors have sued the Chinese electric car giant BYD and two contractor companies. They are being sued over allegations of human trafficking and suspected slave labor conditions at a construction site, as reported by France 24.
The case involves 220 Chinese workers who were found last December in conditions "analogous" to slavery at the BYD plant under construction in Camacari, in the northeastern state of Bahia. The Regional Ministry of Public Labor (MPT) in Bahia stated in December that they had found "degrading" working conditions at the build site.
The plant in Brazil is expected to become BYD's largest electric car factory outside of Asia and was scheduled to be operational in March 2025, according to the BBC.
Workers sleep without mattresses. In one case, 31 people had to share a bathroom. The workers also had visible signs of skin damage due to working for hours under the scorching sun.
The ministry said they also suspected the existence of "forced labor," with illegal clauses in the employment contract, passport confiscation, and up to 70 percent salary deduction by the employer. The workers were supervised by armed guards.
After the allegations were made public, BYD's subsidiary in Brazil stated that it had broken the contract with the Jinjiang contractor responsible for the construction. Jinjiang denied the accusations of slavery.
The Brazilian Ministry is seeking a compensation of US$45.3 million for collective moral damages, as well as payment of wages for each worker.
Civil lawsuit against BYD, Jinjiang, and Tonghe Intelligent Equipment (now Tecmonta) was filed after the companies refused to sign a proposed conduct adjustment agreement by the Brazilian authorities.
On Thursday, May 29, 2025, BYD stated in a press release that they had been working with the MPT from the beginning. BYD reaffirmed its non-negotiable commitment to human rights and labor rights, guiding its activities by respecting Brazilian law and international labor protection standards.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters that Beijing attaches great importance to the protection and security of the legitimate rights and interests of workers. Chinese companies are also required to operate in accordance with laws and regulations.
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