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.

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.

Chinese workers at a BYD construction site in Brazil face human trafficking allegations, stirring controversy in the company's largest overseas market. BYD and contractor Jinjiang are in talks with Brazilian authorities to resolve the issue.