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Latin Times
Latin Times
Politics
Michelly Teixeira

Contractor of China's BYD Denies Forced Labor Claims in Brazil, Cites Cultural Misunderstandings

Prosecutors reported that workers at one site were forced to sleep on beds without mattresses and share each bathroom with 31 others (Credit: Brazil's Public Labour Prosecutor's Office MPT)

After Brazilian authorities temporarily suspended construction work on a factory for Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD, citing "slavery-like" conditions for workers, contractor Jinjiang Group denied the allegations. More than 160 workers were rescued in Bahia state, according to Brazil's Public Labour Prosecutor's Office (MPT). Jinjiang attributed the claims to cultural misunderstandings and translation errors.

Brazilian labor authorities made the accusations on Wednesday, prompting BYD to cut ties with the firm responsible for hiring the 163 Chinese workers. The EV giant confirmed it is cooperating with authorities, as reported by Reuters. Jinjiang said on its Weibo account that the allegations misrepresented the facts and harmed the dignity of its employees and the Chinese people.

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