RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – 163 Chinese workers found at a factory owned by Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD (SZ: ) in the Brazilian state of Bahia were victims of international human trafficking, local labor authorities said.
A statement issued late Thursday said BYD and contractor Jinjiang Group agreed to house workers in hotels pending negotiations on an agreement to end labor contracts, although both firms disagreed with the investigation by authorities.
BYD did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reuters could not reach Jinjiang for comment outside normal business hours.