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Unified Salary Proposal by BYD for All Positions in Production Line Causes Protests Among Metalworkers in Camaçari Who Demand Valuation of Specialized Functions
The installation of BYD’s factory in Camaçari, Bahia, has generated great expectations due to the promise of job creation. However, the salary proposal from the Chinese company for the production line workers has caused discontent among the metalworkers in the region.
Unified Salary Generates Tension with Workers
BYD, the largest manufacturer of electric and hybrid cars in the world, proposed a unified minimum wage of R$ 1,950 for all positions in the production line.
The measure displeased the Metalworkers Union of Camaçari, which claims that the functions performed by workers require different levels of specialization.
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According to Júlio Bonfim, president of the union, it is unreasonable to pay the same amount to professionals with such distinct responsibilities. He cited examples such as crane operators, forklift drivers, mechanics, and electricians. “They [BYD] think everything is the same,” he complained.
BYD’s advisory stated that the company would not comment on the ongoing negotiations.
Tax Benefits and Counterparties
The automaker took over the manufacturing complex that belonged to Ford in October 2023. To maintain the same tax benefits granted to the previous automaker, BYD needed to enter into commitments, such as hiring local labor. The plant enjoys federal tax exemptions such as IPI, PIS, and Cofins until 2032.
Job Forecast and Timeline for the Camaçari Factory.
In December, the company announced that it intends to generate 20,000 direct jobs at the new unit. The expectation is that the factory will begin operations this year, but full operation is only expected to occur in the second half of 2026.
Stella Li, global executive vice president of BYD, stated at the time that the company was “transforming Camaçari into the Silicon Valley of Latin America.”
Former Ford Employees Await Definition
About 9,000 former Ford workers are awaiting a definitive stance on the salaries offered by the new automaker. At the start of negotiations, BYD’s proposal was R$ 1,812. Later, it increased to R$ 1,950. Even so, there is still no differentiation by function.
According to Bonfim, 80% of the factory’s workforce will be comprised of production line workers. The determination of the salary for this group is viewed as the most sensitive point in the process.
Differences in Relation to Ford’s Model
At the time of Ford, the union had negotiated a career plan with a progressive minimum wage over six years. Salaries started at R$ 1,800 and could reach R$ 3,400.
According to the union, BYD would have already reached agreements for coordinator and quality control positions. The salaries would be R$ 4,500 and R$ 3,500, respectively.
Lack of Negotiation Experience Concerns Union Leaders
Bonfim points out that the automaker faces difficulties in negotiations due to the absence of a union tradition in China. According to him, the Chinese corporate culture is still not accustomed to dialoguing with worker representation entities.
Legislation Allows, but Demands Criteria
Washington Barbosa, a law expert and CEO of WB Courses, explains that Brazilian labor legislation allows equal salaries for different functions within the same category. However, this must respect the legal minimum wage and the baseline established in collective agreements.
“If you do a certain job for R$ 2,000, and there’s another person next to you doing exactly the same job for R$ 3,000, then you are entitled to earn the same,” he states.
He adds that the company can, in the future, adjust salaries through a career plan, as long as it respects the principle of wage equality.
Labor Public Ministry Monitors the Situation
In a statement to Repórter Brasil, the Labor Public Ministry in Bahia informed that there is no need for intervention at the moment. According to the agency, it only acts in cases of complaints or when mediation is requested.
Case of Forced Labor in 2024
At the end of 2024, BYD was held responsible for keeping Chinese workers in conditions analogous to slavery during the factory’s construction. The analyzed contracts stipulated workweeks of up to 70 hours, far above the legal limit.
Four workplace accidents were recorded, with severe cases such as amputations and loss of movement. The service provider Jinjiang and BYD were notified in December.
Following the inspection, the automaker terminated the contract with Jinjiang and regularized the workers’ conditions. It also arranged for the return of Chinese workers to their country of origin.
In a statement, Alexandre Baldy, vice president of BYD Brazil, said that the company has been cooperating with public agencies since the beginning. “We decided to terminate the contract with the construction company Jinjiang,” he stated.
Delayed Production May Impact BYD’s Presence in the Country
The salary uncertainty may affect the automaker’s timeline. So far, only 1,000 of the 10,000 workers expected for this year have been hired. This could compromise the start of production and make it difficult to train personnel.
The delay may also weaken the company’s position in the fight against import tariffs. With local manufacturing, BYD would avoid the 35% tax that could be applied to imported electric cars until July.
Expectation in the Region is High
The population of Camaçari awaits the reactivation of the industrial hub with hope. Since Ford’s closure in 2021, about 12,000 workers have been laid off, both directly and indirectly.
The city hall estimates that R$ 20 million have stopped circulating per month in the local economy after Ford’s exit.
The union president sums up the situation: “We want the company to succeed, for the company to start producing soon, for the company to provide jobs, but we also want it to be under fair conditions for the workers, where we can treat everyone equally.”
With information from Repórter Brasil.
Misericórdia! Os veículos tão caros e um salário **** desse, O meu primeiro emprego em 1982 numa indústria textil em Salvador, já era um salário mínimo e meio, que seria hoje, 2.250,00! Que salário de fome é esse que querem pagar para esses trabalhadores? Nem a 2.000,00 não chega a ser o piso salarial!