Sao Paulo (AP) – Brazilian prosecutors said on Tuesday that they were pursuing the Chinese giant of electric vehicles byd and two of its entrepreneurs for allegations of use of workers in working conditions of the slave type and to engage in international trafficking.
The office of labor prosecutors in the state of Bahia declared in a statement that they asked for 257 million Brazilian reais ($ 50 million) in damages of byd, China Jinjiang construction of Brazil and Tecmonta Equipmentos.
The trial follows from an investigation which led to the rescue last year of 220 Chinese workers on the construction of The new byd factory in the city of Camaçari. Prosecutors said workers had been brought to Brazil under false pretexts and with visas that did not correspond to their work.
“The working conditions were extremely degrading. Five colonies were held by Byd, Jinjiang and Tecmonta. Some workers slept on beds without mattresses and had their personal effects next to their food,” said the prosecutors’ office. “There were few bathrooms, which were not attributed to sex. In one of the colonies, there was a toilet for 31 people, forcing workers to wake up at 4 am for their personal hygiene before their work. ”
Byd said in a statement that he collaborated with the investigations from the start and would speak of the case during the investigation. He also declared that he respects the laws of Brazil and international labor regulations.
In December, a spokesperson for the Chinese car manufacturer opposed reports on poor conditions on the construction site in Brazil, saying that allegations aimed to “spread” China and Chinese brands.
