Brazilian prosecutors filed a lawsuit against Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD and two contracting companies for alleged human trafficking and labor conditions described as “analogous to slavery,” according to court documents released Thursday.
Authorities discovered 220 Chinese workers in December 2023 at a BYD plant under construction in Camacari, Bahia, living in conditions the Bahia Regional Ministry of Labor (MPT) deemed degrading. Inspectors reported inadequate accommodations and unsanitary facilities.
The plant, expected to become BYD’s largest electric vehicle manufacturing site outside China, is now under scrutiny following the findings.
Prosecutors accuse the companies of violating Brazilian labor laws and subjecting workers to inhumane treatment.
The MPT initiated legal action to address the violations and continues to investigate the case. Prosecutors are collecting evidence and witness testimonies to support their claims.
Neither BYD nor the contracting companies have issued public statements regarding the lawsuit. The legal proceedings remain ongoing.