Authorities say workers slept on beds without mattresses, ate dirty food, and had to share one bathroom among 31 people

Brazilian officials found 163 Chinese nationals working in "slavery-like conditions" at a construction site for a factory owned by Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD in Brazil's Bahia state, the local labor prosecutor's office said on Monday.

The Chinese automaker is known for using cheap labor to reduce the price of its EVs, with Brazil becoming its largest overseas market.

"Slavery-like conditions", as defined by Brazilian law, include debt bondage and work that violates human dignity. The MPT added that the situation also constitutes "forced labour", as many workers had their wages withheld and faced excessive costs for terminating their contracts. BYD said affected workers had been moved to hotels.

BYD has cut ties with its contractor Jinjiang Construction Brazil Ltd, and pledged to protect the rights of all subcontracted workers

Brazilian task force rescues 163 Chinese nationals as officials say workers’ passports were confiscated and videos show dorms with no mattresses

Brazilian prosecutors found that workers building a factory for Chinese automaker BYD in Camacari in Bahia state were subject to "degrading working conditions," with passports confiscated and parts of salaries retained.