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

Announcement came days after labour authorities also said they found Chinese workers at factory in Bahia were victims of human trafficking.

BYD Co. has severed ties with a construction firm after Brazilian authorities halted construction of a new electric-vehicle plant where workers were found working and living 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.