"Brazil’s top labor inspector fired for adding China’s BYD to ’dirty list,’ sources say", 13 April 2026

...Brazil’s secretary of labor inspection was fired for adding Chinese automaker BYD to a registry of employers accused of subjecting workers to conditions described by the government as similar to slavery, two people close to the matter told Reuters.

Luiz Felipe Brandao de Mello disobeyed an order from Labor Minister Luiz Marinho to leave the electric vehicle maker off Brazil’s labor abuse "dirty list," said the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss the matter.

His dismissal, made official in Monday’s official gazette, is the latest flashpoint in a crisis between President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s government and the traditionally independent inspectors who target serious labor abuses. Marinho has previously been accused of interfering in their work to keep big companies off the list.

Brazil’s Labor Ministry said the dismissal was "an administrative act," without providing further details. Mello did not reply to a request for comment...

"The dismissal of the secretary signals an escalation of political interference in labor inspections," Anafitra said in a statement...

BYD did not reply to a request for comment. It has previously said it had no knowledge of any violations until reports by Brazilian media in late 2024...