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.

Shocking news emerged recently as labour officials in Brazil revealed that employees from China working at a construction site linked to BYD Electric Vehicle company are believed to be victims of human trafficking activities.

The 163 Chinese workers found by Brazil's labor ministry in what it described as "slavery-like conditions" at a factory construction site owned by Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD have been removed and taken to hotels,

By Lisandra Paraguassu BRASILIA (Reuters) -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.

Authorities in Brazil said Friday they are probing Chinese auto giant BYD and one of its contractors for suspected "trafficking" of Chinese workers building a factory in the South American country. Federal prosecutors in Brazil are weighing possible criminal action after labor inspectors

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

Local authorities said the contractor employed by BYD was forcing 163 Chinese workers to endure slave-like conditions at the construction site