LABOR INSPECTIONS
BYD’s removal from anti-slavery list tests Brazil’s labor credibility
BYD production line in Camaçari, Bahia. Photo: Rafael Martins/Reuters/Folhapress
When Brazil's Labor Ministry published its semi-annual registry of employers found responsible for slave-like working conditions in early April, one name stood out: BYD, the Chinese electric vehicle giant that has become the darling of Brazilian car buyers. The company’s listing lasted less than three days.
It was quickly followed by a court injunction, removal from the registry — and the dismissal of the senior Labor Ministry official who had signed off on BYD’s inclusion.
The episode has triggered a crisis of credibility around one of Brazil's most internationally recognized anti-slavery tools. It has also led labor auditors to threaten…
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