Overview

• Brazilian labor officials rescued 163 Chinese workers from BYD's factory construction site in Bahia, citing 'slavery-like' conditions, including withheld passports and excessive overtime.
• The workers, employed by BYD's contractor Jinjiang Group, were reportedly housed in unsanitary dormitories with insufficient facilities and had portions of their wages withheld.
• Brazil has ceased issuing temporary work visas to BYD, and the company has pledged to cooperate with authorities while denying the allegations of labor abuse.
• The scandal has raised concerns about Chinese companies' labor practices abroad, highlighting tensions between foreign investment and local labor standards.
• Experts suggest the incident may serve as a lesson for Chinese firms operating internationally, particularly in countries with rigorous labor and judicial systems like Brazil.