Brazil says workers at China's BYD site are victims of human trafficking

Brazilian labor authorities have identified 163 Chinese workers at a BYD factory construction site in Bahia as victims of human trafficking, alleging they were subjected to "slavery-like conditions." BYD, a leading Chinese electric vehicle producer, and its contractor Jinjiang Group have committed to assisting the workers by housing them in hotels while negotiating contract terminations.

Jinjiang has denied the allegations, attributing them to translation errors and rejecting the portrayal of the workers as "enslaved." BYD initially announced severing ties with Jinjiang but later suggested the accusations were part of a campaign to discredit Chinese brands and damage China-Brazil relations.

China's foreign ministry stated it is in contact with Brazilian authorities to verify the claims, emphasizing its commitment to workers' rights and lawful operations abroad. Brazilian prosecutors are set to meet with BYD and Jinjiang representatives on January 7 to seek a resolution.