Camacari, Brazil, Dec 25: Brazilian authorities have rescued 163 workers from conditions described as akin to slavery at a construction site for a factory of Chinese electric vehicle maker Build Your Dreams (BYD) in Camacari, Bahia.
The workers, employed by Jinjiang Group, an outsourced contractor for BYD, were found living and working in degrading conditions during inspections by Brazil’s Public Labour Prosecutor’s Office (MPT).
Workers faced numerous violations, including inadequate lodging, unsanitary bathrooms, and withheld wages. At one lodging, 31 workers shared a single bathroom, forcing them to wake at 4 a.m. to queue for access. Personal belongings were mixed with food supplies, and the site lacked proper hygiene standards, according to the MPT, ANI reported.
“The conditions found in the lodgings revealed an alarming picture of precariousness and degradation,” the MPT said in a statement.
At the construction site, eight chemical toilets served 600 workers, and meals were prepared and served in unhygienic conditions. Workers were also exposed to extreme solar radiation, showing visible signs of skin damage.
Authorities identified forced labor practices, including withholding of passports, payment of only 40% of wages in Chinese currency, and high financial penalties for terminating contracts. Workers were required to pay a deposit, and early termination of employment meant forfeiting wages and covering travel costs.
The MPT has closed the construction site and associated accommodations until compliance is ensured. Rescued workers will remain in their lodgings but are barred from continuing work. Their employment contracts will be terminated.
“The rescue of 163 workers who were being held in conditions analogous to slavery and the closure of the lodgings and parts of the construction site … was communicated on Monday morning to the company and to Jinjiang Group,” the MPT added.
Inspections, which began in mid-November, uncovered widespread irregularities and are set to continue.
BYD, headquartered in Shenzhen, China, operates across industries including automobiles, rail transit, renewable energy, and electronics. The company has not yet commented on the findings.
This case underscores persistent labor rights challenges in global supply chains, particularly involving outsourced contractors in developing regions.
