BYD, which has denied allegations and blamed foreign forces for a smearing campaign, moved workers to nearby hotels as Brazilian prosecutors continue their probe

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

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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.

BYD has been building the factory with an annual capacity of producing 150,000 cars initially in Brazil, the Chinese EV giant's largest overseas market, as part of plans to start production there.

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".

Jinjiang Group has denied the allegations of "slavery-like conditions" for workers at BYD in Brazil and has not commented on the trafficking claims.