China reacts to the inclusion of electric car maker BYD on a ‘dirty list’ of slave labor

Government updates ‘dirty list’ of slave labor and includes Amado Batista and BYD The Chinese government reacted to the inclusion of the Chinese electric car manufacturer BYD in the labor “dirty list” this Tuesday (7). The list brings together the names of employers caught subjecting workers to conditions similar to slavery. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the country views the protection of workers’ rights and interests as having great importance. “China has always required Chinese companies to operate in accordance with laws and regulations,” they responded. 🗒️ Do you have any reporting suggestions? Send to g1 In the new list, 169 new employers were added to the register, which represents an increase of 6.28% compared to the last update. Of this total, 102 are individuals (employers) and 67 are companies (legal entities). Among the new names included are singer Amado Batista and Chinese electric car manufacturer BYD. With the update, the total number of employers listed is around 613. 📃 The “dirty list” is a public document published every six months by the Ministry of Labor, in April and October, which gives visibility to actions to combat slave labor. Employers enter after the administrative process is completed, without appeal; They stay for 2 years and only leave if they have no new cases and their situation is regularized. Work similar to slavery Wellyngton Souza/Sesp-MT In this new update, the economic activities with the largest number of employers included in the list were: Domestic services (23); Raising beef cattle (18); Coffee cultivation (12); Construction of buildings (10); Land preparation, cultivation and harvesting service (6). In total, the new cases included in the registry resulted in the rescue of 2,247 workers in situations of exploitation and work similar to slavery. The update also excluded 225 employers who had completed two years on the register. The cases included in this update occurred between 2020 and 2025, in 22 units of the Federation. The states with the highest number of employers were: Minas Gerais (35); São Paulo (20); Bahia (17); Paraíba (17); Pernambuco (13); Goiás (10); Mato Grosso do Sul (10); Rio Grande do Sul (9); Mato Grosso (7); Paraná (6); Pará (5); Santa Catarina (4); Maranhão (4); Acre (2); Federal District (2); Holy Spirit (2); Rio de Janeiro (2); Amazon (1); Ceará (1); Rondônia (1); Sergipe (1). BYD is among the names included in the ‘Dirty List’ of slave labor BYD and Amado Batista case The BYD automaker entered the register after the rescue of Chinese workers in December 2024. In total, 220 workers had been hired to work on the construction of the company’s factory in Camaçari, in the Metropolitan Region of Salvador (BA). The Chinese workers were found crammed into accommodation without adequate comfort and hygiene conditions and were watched by armed security guards, who prevented them from leaving the premises. According to authorities, passports were withheld and contracts included illegal clauses, such as exhaustive working hours and lack of weekly rest. One of the workers interviewed by the Public Ministry of Labor of Bahia (MPT-BA) associated an accident with a saw to fatigue caused by the lack of time off. The MPT-BA also pointed out that all workers entered the country irregularly, with visas for specialized services that did not correspond to the activities performed on the site. At the time, BYD informed that the outsourced construction company Jinjiang Construction Brazil Ltda committed irregularities and that, therefore, it decided to terminate the contract with the company. The automaker also stated that it does not tolerate disrespect for Brazilian legislation or human dignity and ordered the transfer of some of the workers to hotels in the region. At the end of 2025, the Public Ministry of Labor of Bahia (MPT-BA) signed an agreement worth R$40 million with the Chinese automaker and two contractors, after filing a public civil action for work analogous to slavery and human trafficking. After the agreement, BYD stated that it maintained a non-negotiable commitment to human rights and informed that it would speak out in the case files filed by the agency. (read the full note on the occasion) g1 sought out BYD to comment on the inclusion on the “dirty list”, but did not receive a response until the last update of this report. Images show working conditions at a BYD site in Bahia Personal Archive In the case of singer Amado Batista, he appears in two fines registered in Goianápolis, in the Metropolitan Region of Goiânia (GO). One of them involves Sítio Esperança, with 10 workers, and the other mentions Sítio Recanto da Mata, with four workers. The cases occurred in 2024. In a note sent to g1, the singer’s advisor stated that the information about the rescue of 14 workers on properties linked to the artist is “completely false and untrue”. According to the note, there was no rescue of workers, and all employees continue to carry out their activities normally. The advisory also reported that, in 2024, there was an inspection on a farm leased for the planting of corn. At the time, irregularities were identified in the hiring of four workers linked to an outsourced company responsible for opening the planting area. Also according to the position, a Conduct Adjustment Term (TAC) was signed with the Public Ministry of Labor (MPT), and all labor obligations would have been fully fulfilled and paid off. Regarding the existence of two properties, the note informs that there was no rescue of workers at Sítio Esperança. The advisory also stated that improvements related to housing and living areas were highlighted, which, according to the note, have already been carried out and completed. The note also indicated that all workers are duly registered and regularly receive their labor rights and legal charges. Finally, he informed that administrative measures are being adopted to close any possible assessment procedures. Singer Amado Batista Reproduction/Social Networks The names of employers are only included in the register after the conclusion of the administrative process that analyzed the case, with a definitive decision and without the possibility of appeal. (Understand more below). As a rule, each name remains on the list for a period of two years. However, an ordinance published in July 2024 created new rules that allow early withdrawal of registration or even the non-inclusion of the name. This possibility exists for employers who sign a conduct adjustment agreement, committing to compensate victims with at least 20 minimum wages, and to invest in support programs for rescued workers. In these cases, employers join another list, the Register of Conduct Adjustment Employers. However, they can return to the “dirty list” if they fail to fulfill their commitments or repeat the practice of conditions similar to slavery. The “dirty list” was created in 2004, but faced impasses in the governments of Michel Temer (MDB) and Jair Bolsonaro (PL). The disclosure of the registration was suspended between 2014 and 2016, until the Federal Supreme Court (STF) recognized the constitutionality of the document. The Special Mobile Inspection Group (GEFM), which operates throughout the national territory, completed 30 years in 2025. Since its creation in 1995, more than 68 thousand workers have been rescued from conditions similar to slavery. Throughout the operations, more than R$160 million in salary and severance payments were guaranteed to workers. This result is the result of the work of the Labor Tax Audit, responsible for coordinating the GEFM. ➡️ SEE FULL LIST BELOW: READ ALSO: What the law considers work analogous to slavery Survivor of slave labor in wineries becomes inspector How does someone end up on the ‘dirty list’? Tax auditors of the MTE’s work constantly carry out actions to combat work analogous to slavery, which may involve the participation of members of the Federal Public Defender’s Office, the Federal Public and Labor Ministries, the Federal Police, the Highway Police, among other police forces. When, during these actions, workers are found in conditions similar to slavery, an infraction notice is drawn up. Each infraction notice generates an administrative process, in which irregularities are investigated and employers have the right to defense. Individuals or legal entities are only included on the “dirty list” when the administrative process that judged the specific report of work analogous to slavery in relation to that employer is concluded, with a decision without the possibility of appeal. ⚠️ How to report? Reports of slave labor can be made remotely through the Ipê System, launched in May 2020 by the Labor Inspection Secretariat in partnership with the International Labor Organization. The system is the specific channel for reporting work similar to slavery. The whistleblower does not need to identify themselves: simply access the system and enter as much information as possible. The proposal is that, based on this information, inspections assess whether the case in fact constitutes work similar to slavery and, if necessary, carry out on-site checks. Find out what slave labor is Find out what slave labor is

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