The 163 Chinese workers found by Brazil's labor ministry in what it described as "slavery-like conditions" at a factory construction site owned by Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD have been removed and taken to hotels,

Brazil has suspended temporary work visas for BYD following allegations of human trafficking at its construction site in Bahia. Labor authorities revealed 163 workers from China were brought under 'slavery-like' conditions by contractor Jinjiang Group.

Brazilian authorities have suspended the issuance of temporary work visas for Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday. The announcement came days after labor authorities said they found 163 Chinese workers in "slavery-like" conditions at a BYD factory construction site in the northeastern state of Bahia.

China's Jinjiang Group is in the spotlight after Brazil's labour authorities said workers at a factory it is building for electric vehicle maker BYD were victims of human trafficking working in "slavery-like conditions".

Dozens of Chinese workers have been taken and put up in hotels in Brazil’s tropical northeastern region after local labor authorities found them at a construction site for electric vehicle automaker BYD.

Authorities in Brazil said Friday they are probing Chinese auto giant BYD and one of its contractors for suspected "trafficking" of Chinese workers building a factory in the South American country.

Brazil has stopped issuing temporary work visas for BYD , the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday, in the wake of accusations that some workers at a site owned by the Chinese electric vehicle producer had been victims of human trafficking.

A task force led by Brazilian prosecutors said it had rescued 163 Chinese nationals it said were working in “slavery-like” conditions at the site.

Shocking news emerged recently as labour officials in Brazil revealed that employees from China working at a construction site linked to BYD Electric Vehicle company are believed to be victims of human trafficking activities.

Chinese workers at a construction site in Brazil for a factory owned by China's electric vehicle producer BYD are victims of human trafficking, Brazilian labor authorities said on Thursday in a growing controversy in BYD's biggest overseas market.