‘Akin to Slavery’: 163 Chinese Workers Rescued From Construction Site in Brazil, Authorities Say

Chinese workers building an electric vehicle factory were living in unsanitary conditions and had their passports withheld, Brazil’s labor inspectors said.

A general view of BYD's new electric vehicle (EV) factory's construction site in Camacari, Brazil, on Nov. 17, 2024. Adriano Machado/Reuters

Brazil’s Public Ministry of Labor (MPT) said on Dec. 23 that it had rescued 163 Chinese workers who were living in conditions akin to slavery while building electric vehicle manufacturer BYD’s first factory in the country.

The Chinese company is building a factory at Camaçari near Salvador in Bahia state, which was due to open in March 2025.