ISTANBUL 

Brazil rescued 163 Chinese nationals from "slavery-like" conditions at a construction site in northeastern Brazil, where Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD is building a factory, according to ABC News.

The Labor Prosecutor’s Office released footage showing dormitories with beds lacking mattresses and rooms devoid of storage for personal belongings.

The site, located in Camacari in the Salvador metropolitan area, exposed workers to critical sanitary conditions, including one toilet for every 31 people, prosecutors said. Workers woke up at 4 a.m. to line up for facilities before starting their shifts at 5:30 a.m, it adeded.

Prosecutors said the workers had been recruited in China by Jinjiang Construction Brazil, a contractor on the site.

The company allegedly confiscated workers’ passports, withheld 60% of their wages, and required those who quit to pay for their return airfare and associated costs.

Attempts to contact Jinjiang Construction in Brazil were unsuccessful, as no phone number or email address was readily available.

-BYD's response

BYD, one of the world’s largest electric car manufacturers, said Monday it would "immediately terminate the contract" with Jinjiang and is exploring further appropriate measures.

The company assured that the rescued workers would be temporarily housed in nearby hotels and would not face further suffering.

BYD added that it had recently demanded “adjustments” to working conditions from its contractors.