Brazil suspends temporary work visas for BYD amid claims of ‘slavery-like conditions’

Brazilian authorities have suspended the issuance of temporary work visas for BYD in the wake of accusations that some workers at a site owned by the Chinese electric vehicle producer had been victims of human trafficking, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday.

Later, the authorities also said the workers were victims of human trafficking.

According to the foreign ministry, the workers entered Brazil on temporary work visas. Labor authorities had said earlier in the week that the workers had been brought to Brazil irregularly.

BYD did not immediately respond to request for comment on the ministry’s decision.

In a social media post on Thursday, which was reposted by a BYD spokesperson, Jinjiang Group rejected the Brazilian authorities’ accusations about the work conditions at the Bahia site.