Hungary: Chinese construction workers allegedly subjected to severe abuse at BYD electric vehicle plant, incl. 'indicators of forced labour'
SECOM/BA
It's important that consumers know what's really behind some of these electric vehicles, and the labour conditions that are behind the production of these cars.China Labor Watch Project Officer, Elaine Lu.
In March and April 2026, The World and CBC reported that the non-profit organisation China Labor Watch found labour rights violations impacting Chinese workers constructing a BYD electric vehicle factory in Szeged, Hungary.
China Labor Watch interviewed 50 workers and found allegations of excessive hours (up to 14 hours a day), seven-day work weeks, up to three months wage theft, recruitment fee charging, a lack of access to basic amenities, threats, and an inability to freely return home, and indicators of forced labour.
Many of the workers were hired indirectly through multiple tiers of subcontractors, including AIM Construction Hungary KFT (part of Jinjian Construction Group). BYD and AIM Construction Hungary KFT did not respond to The World’s request for comment.
Officials for Csongrád-Csanád County’s labor office are now allegedly conducting an investigation into the allegations.
The allegations follow previous reports of human rights violations impacting migrant workers in a BYD plant in Camaçari, Brazil, including alleged conditions of forced labour – see more here.