In response to criticism that it has violated US labour rules, Chinese carmaker BYD said it would hire more local employees at its new electric bus factory in California.
The company said in a statement it had temporarily loaned some Chinese engineers and experts to transfer technology to local employees at its Los Angeles factory and would not be displacing any American workers.
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It added that it plans to hire more local employees as bus production commences. BYD currently employs about 40 local workers at the plant.
The Warren Buffett-backed Chinese carmaker has come under fire from advocacy group Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy which said the company had failed to pay workers the required minimum wage and accused it of other violations. The company was fined US$100,000 after California authorities investigated the charges, according to a report in the New York Times.
BYD last week accused the labour rights group of spreading “misinformation”. It added that the company is “dedicated” to ensuring that its employees are treated fairly.
BYD is stepping up efforts to sell electric vehicles globally and this year has signed several contracts including one to supply the cities of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport in the Netherlands.
