'slavery' in quotes really seems to soften the blow. Like the time I 'punched' my boss.
Punching them softly
🎵with his song…
It's probably quoting the Brazilian authorities. Also, journalists are afraid of being litigated of defamation in case the situation and story turns out not what it initially appears to be.
It's in quotes because they weren't fully paid for.
You know the irony of this picture is that in the early 90's myself and eight others tricked out a cargo container with scaffold build bunks on a job. We were not alone in doing this. We paid the plant we were working at a very small amount of money for electricity and used the showers in their plant locker room. We were of course being paid and were free to run to town anytime. We had large cookouts on any days off we had. Which were very few. Good times. I remember a week in Vegas after we finally got laid off.
Those poor souls though if they were forced to live like that need to be compensated.
"Slavery-like conditions", as defined by Brazilian law, include debt bondage and work that violates human dignity.
Remember this, everybody.
Violation of work dignity is part of mainland Chinese work culture. I guess the big heads in China still don't understand the complaint
That's just racism against chinese culture then!! /s
There's a good reason why their cars are cheap, and only one part of it is Chinese state subsidies.
The conditions were created by a Brazilian building contractor. It was not the factory environment, but the construction project environment.
Companies are responsible for hiring their subcontractors. They don't get to pass on guilt through indirection.
I think the destinction between the chinese firm constructing the site and BYD itself is quite important here. I am absolutely not a fan of chinese car manufacturers but its just not the same as if BYD was operating the site right now and this news came to light
Outsourcing your slavery dosen't make it any better.
Some would argue that this is precisely why they 'outsource' just like mobsters do. It gives plausible deniability.
Absolutely, ignorance is tantamount to complicity. Especially since BYD will earn a profit on their slave labor.
If you outsource your work, you outsource your reputation. BYD is absolutely responsible for the conditions of the workers.
It is the same, sorry. When you hire a third party to build or expand your business, you're accountable for what happens under your nose. Simply pointing fingers to outsourced work as if it were beyond one's control does not cut here. If you wish to operate in Brazil, you must comply with local legislation. And stating that some companies break the law is the same as saying that some people are turning a blind eye to the legislation, too. BYD management must choose which side of the legal fence they want to be. Cheers!
I wonder what the tankie spin of this would be.
They will still say "capitalism bad".
Capitalism isn't perfect, but it's the better system we have so far.
Never mind that, when can I buy my $10,000 electric car with 2000 miles of range? That's the important thing, here.
All of those chip factories Congress is funding building in the US? Congress is also trying to pass legislation to import underpaid Taiwanese labor for them. I expect the conditions won’t be better.
prolly worthy of a whole 'nather post rather than derailing this one that isn't about the US nor Taiwan.
My point is, it’s a trend we’re seeing in exploitation of factory workers where countries are trying to bring back manufacturing from China. A lot of the domestic manufacturing in Brazil is due to the high import tariffs, which is gaining popularity here in the states, so I expect we’ll see an increase of this kinda exploitation.
But yeah, you’re probably right.
Ah, I've asked my late dad's friend recently how did it happen that my dad left Samsung (he didn't tell me), and it was generally the same story about the famed Asian work ethic. Hardly compatible with correctness, having dignity and not being a snitch.
This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
