Brazil Investigating Issues At Former Ford Plant Owned By BYD

As Ford Authority reported yesterday, a former Ford plant that was sold to the state of Bahia back in December 2023 after the automaker ceased its manufacturing operations in Brazil has since landed in the possession of China-based BYD, which is working to transform it into a major EV hub of its own. The renovation of the former Ford site is being spearheaded by Chinese contractor Jinjiang Group, but Brazilian labor authorities are now claiming that they found 163 Chinese nationals working in “slavery-like conditions” there – allegations that Jinjiang has denied, though they’re now being investigated by Brazilian authorities, regardless.

According to Reuters, Brazil has ceased issuing temporary work visas for BYD amid these allegations, which also include concerns that those working at the site are victims of human trafficking. Brazil’s Ministry of Justice has said that if irregularities are found by prosecutors investigating the plant, those workers would have their residence permits revoked, and it has already sent a request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to suspend the issuance of temporary visas to BYD as well.

Jinjiang Group continues to deny all of these allegations. “Being unjustly labeled as ‘enslaved’ has made our employees feel that their dignity has been insulted and their human rights violated, seriously hurting the dignity of the Chinese people. We have signed a joint letter to express our true feelings,” Jinjiang said in a statement. Li Yunfei, general manager of branding and public relations at BYD, also accused labor authorities of “deliberately smearing Chinese brands and the country and undermining the relationship between China and Brazil.”

Jinjiang has also stated that translation issues are to blame for what it calls a misunderstanding, as well as cultural differences. Meanwhile, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, noted that the Chinese embassy in Brazil is working with authorities there to sort things out.