Authorities rescued 163 workers living in inhumane conditions, prompting BYD to sever ties with its construction partner.

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 002594.SZ have been removed and taken to hotels,

Jinjiang Group, a contractor for Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD, said on Thursday Brazilian authorities' portrayal of their employees as "enslaved" was inconsistent with the facts and that there were translation misunderstandings.