Exclusive: BYD brought hundreds of Chinese workers to Brazil on irregular visas-inspector

Luciana Novaes Magalhaes - Reuters - 08/01
Electric vehicle producer BYD brought hundreds of Chinese workers on irregular visas to build a factory in Brazil, a key labor inspector told Reuters on Tuesday, adding the company has pledged to comply with local labor laws for the workers remaining in the country.
  • BYD brought hundreds of Chinese workers on irregular visas to Brazil, inspector says
  • BYD agrees to comply with Brazilian labor laws, inspector says
  • BYD contractor will pay to send 163 workers back to China, inspector says
Jan 7 - Electric vehicle producer BYD (002594.SZ), opens new tab brought hundreds of Chinese workers on irregular visas to build a factory in Brazil, a key labor inspector told Reuters on Tuesday, adding the company has pledged to comply with local labor laws for the workers remaining in the country.
A total of 163 of those workers, hired by BYD contractor Jinjiang, were found last month to be working in "slavery-like conditions."
The 163 workers who were rescued by labor authorities in December are leaving or have already left Brazil, said Liane Durao, who has spearheaded the probe announced in late December.
"All of this was irregular," said Durao, adding that BYD would be fined for each worker found in this situation, without elaborating on the total amount to be paid.
She said the firm agreed to adjust the conditions of the hundreds of workers who will remain in the country, to comply with Brazilian labor laws. About 500 Chinese workers were brought to work in the Brazilian factory, she said.
BYD and Jinjiang did not immediately reply to a request for comment. BYD has previously said it cut ties with Jinjiang, which disputes the charges by Brazilian authorities.
A person close to BYD to...
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