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SAO
PAULO (AP) — Brazilian prosecutors said Tuesday they are suing
Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD and two of its contractors
over allegations of using workers in slave-like labor conditions
and engaging in international human trafficking.
The labor prosecutors' office in Bahia state said in a statement
that they are seeking 257 million Brazilian reais ($50 million)
in damages from BYD, China JinJiang Construction Brazil and
Tecmonta Equipamentos Inteligentes.
The lawsuit stems from an investigation that led to the rescue
last year of 220 Chinese workers from the construction site of
BYD’s new factory in the city of Camaçari. Prosecutors said the
workers were brought to Brazil under false pretenses and with
visas that did not match their jobs.
“Working conditions were extremely degrading. Five settlements
were kept by BYD, JinJiang and Tecmonta. Some workers slept on
beds without mattresses and had their personal belongings
alongside with their food,” the prosecutors' office said. “There
were few bathrooms, which were not gender-assigned. In one of
the settlements, there was one toilet for 31 people, forcing
workers to wake up at 4 a.m. for their personal hygiene before
their work.”
BYD said in a statement it is collaborating with the
investigations from the start and will speak about the case
during the course of the probe. It also said it respects
Brazil's laws and international labor regulations.
In December, a spokesperson for the Chinese automaker objected
to reports about poor conditions at the construction site in
Brazil, saying the allegations were aimed at “smearing” China
and Chinese brands.
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