211
submitted 17 hours ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

Summary

Brazilian authorities shut down construction of BYD’s first electric vehicle plant outside Asia after discovering 163 Chinese workers living in “slavery-like” conditions.

Hired by contractor Jinjiang Construction Brazil, workers faced excessive hours, withheld passports, and degrading living conditions, including unsanitary accommodations and lack of basic necessities.

The factory, set to open in March 2025, is now under review.

BYD terminated its contract with Jinjiang, relocated workers to hotels, and pledged to investigate all contractor practices.

top 16 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[-] Kecessa@sh.itjust.works 31 points 13 hours ago

Where are all the pro-Chinese EV people at?

"Americans are mad because they can't compete with the Chinese!"

Yeah, when employees are unionized and get great conditions it turns out the product is more expensive than the one built by slave and subsidized by the government in order to do dumping so they eventually end up with a monopoly, who would have thought?

[-] bassomitron@lemmy.world 75 points 17 hours ago

Oh sure, the parent company totally didn't know this was going on... Glad Brazil discovered this and shut it down. Hope that all of the culprits face severe criminal penalties.

[-] Blackmist@feddit.uk 8 points 14 hours ago

Tap on the wrist, million dollar fine, get back to work plebs.

[-] VinesNFluff@pawb.social 2 points 7 hours ago

And come the next election, the neoliberal politicians will call this an "egregious overreach" that "pushed out a job creator" and use that to push for further deregulation

Ain't capitalism fun? :B

[-] Kyrgizion@lemmy.world 39 points 17 hours ago

That explains why they can go under the prices of the competition. Can't go much cheaper than slave labour.

[-] rockSlayer@lemmy.world 15 points 13 hours ago

This is the secret behind every $5 shirt, most shoes, a majority of the food supply, and other car brands. The problem isn't China, the problem is capitalism.

[-] ramble81@lemm.ee 9 points 14 hours ago

Sounds like America will be back in the car race again soon. I mean they’re already “leasing” prisoners to fast food joints.

[-] Blackmist@feddit.uk 10 points 14 hours ago

Surprise surprise, the ends to the capitalist machinery is outright slavery.

Until massive corporations actually start facing real punishments this will happen over and over.

[-] HowRu68@lemmy.world 23 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago)

Brazilian law is key?!

"BYD said it “does not tolerate disrespect for Brazilian law and human dignity” and that it had immediately terminated the contract with Jinjiang for part of the work at the factory and was considering “other appropriate measures”.

Add: found this 2023 article, concerning Jinshan Construction in Serbia.

Probably same company using different Sino- Romanized name.

[-] catloaf@lemm.ee 13 points 15 hours ago

Of course. Disrespect for human rights is expected. They do it all the time at home, so why not abroad as well?

[-] dogslayeggs@lemmy.world 7 points 14 hours ago

In other words, "BYD totally tolerates slavery and human rights violations, just not in Brazil where that sort of triviality is against the law."

[-] Balthazar@lemmy.world 9 points 14 hours ago

"... Just not where they get caught."

FTFY.

[-] rockSlayer@lemmy.world 18 points 16 hours ago

How very Nestle of them.

[-] saltesc@lemmy.world 13 points 16 hours ago

I guess Build Your Dreams is selective.

[-] ms_lane@lemmy.world 3 points 15 hours ago

Build their directors dreams.

[-] x00z@lemmy.world 6 points 15 hours ago

Is this part of China's Belt and Road initiative?

this post was submitted on 24 Dec 2024
211 points (97.7% liked)

World News

39371 readers
2350 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS