BYD construction site in Brazil shut over ‘slavery-like’ conditions

More than 160 Chinese nationals were found living in ‘degrading’ conditions and working excessive hours

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Brazilian authorities have halted the construction of a factory for the Chinese electric vehicle company BYD, after they found more than 160 Chinese nationals living in “slavery-like” conditions.

The workers, based in a construction site in the north-eastern Brazilian state Bahia, were found to be labouring for excessive hours – sometimes for seven days straight – and living in “degrading” accommodation.

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