BYD Contractor Refutes Brazilian Authorities’ Allegations of Worker Abuse
Jinjiang Group, a contractor for Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD, has denied allegations by Brazilian authorities that its workers were subjected to “slavery-like conditions” at a construction site in Bahia state. The company attributed the claims to translation errors and cultural misunderstandings, dismissing the accusations as inconsistent with the facts.
Brazilian labour officials recently announced that 163 Chinese workers were found working under exploitative conditions at a BYD factory construction site. The alleged violations included withholding passports, enforcing long work hours, and maintaining degrading environments. In response, BYD severed ties with Jinjiang and pledged full cooperation with ongoing investigations.
In a statement on its Weibo account, Jinjiang criticized the accusations, asserting that the allegations insulted the dignity and human rights of its employees. The company claimed that the labour inspectors’ questions were suggestive, leading to misunderstandings. Jinjiang also shared a video of workers expressing satisfaction with their treatment. In the video, one worker described being happy to participate in the project and adhering to Brazilian laws and regulations.
The issue of withheld passports was a key point of contention. Brazilian officials alleged that 107 workers had their travel documents confiscated. Jinjiang countered, explaining that the passports were voluntarily submitted to assist with the issuance of temporary ID certificates required in Brazil.
Li Yunfei, BYD’s general manager of branding and public relations, reposted Jinjiang’s statement on social media and accused “foreign forces” and certain Chinese media outlets of attempting to damage Chinese brands and undermine relations between China and Brazil. BYD declined to comment further, directing inquiries to Li’s public remarks.
China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning confirmed that the Chinese embassy in Brazil is engaging with local authorities to verify the situation and address the concerns.
The factory in question is a critical part of BYD’s strategy in Brazil, with plans to produce 150,000 vehicles annually by 2025. The project is particularly significant as Brazil plans to increase tariffs on imported electric vehicles from 18% to 35% by mid-2026, encouraging local manufacturing.
Jinjiang suggested that cultural differences and language barriers played a significant role in the incident, emphasizing that the company and its workers are committed to completing the project. The situation remains under investigation, drawing attention to labour practices and oversight in international projects.
