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.

Chinese workers at a BYD construction site in Brazil face human trafficking allegations, stirring controversy in the company's largest overseas market. BYD and contractor Jinjiang are in talks with Brazilian authorities to resolve the issue.

Brazilian authorities held a hearing on Friday to discuss the charges of human trafficking against Chinese automaker Build Your Dreams Auto Do Brasil (BYD Brazil) related to the treatment of 163

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.

Chinese workers at BYD's factory site in Brazil's Bahia were identified as human trafficking victims. The company and contractor Jinjiang Group are negotiating contract terminations for 163 workers. Allegations of slavery-like conditions create a potential diplomatic issue amid China's deepening investment in Brazil.

Authorities in Brazil said Friday they were probing Chinese auto giant BYD and one of its contractors for suspected "trafficking" of Chinese workers who were building a factory in the

The 163 Chinese workers found in a construction site of a factory owned by Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD in Brazil's Bahia state were victims of international human trafficking, said local labor authorities.

Allegations spark tensions as BYD cuts ties with contractor amid labor rights concerns, passport disputes, and China's push for stronger Brazil ties.