BYD's electric car factory in Brazil halted over worker treatment

Brazilian authorities suspended construction of BYD's new electric vehicle factory in northeastern Bahia state on December 23 after workers were found to be working and living in "slavery"-like conditions. A total of 163 Chinese workers were rescued and ordered to stop construction, according to a statement released by the Labor Prosecutor's Office. BYD subsequently announced the termination of its cooperation with Jinjiang Brazil Construction Co., Ltd. and promised to protect the rights of subcontracted workers. All workers have been transferred to hotels for resettlement.