A spokesperson for Chinese automaker BYD has objected to reports about poor conditions at a construction site in Brazil where it is building a factory, saying the allegations were aimed at “smearing” China and Chinese brands.

Brazilian officials found 163 Chinese nationals working in "slavery-like conditions" at a construction site for a factory owned by Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD in Brazil's Bahia state, the local labor prosecutor's office said on Monday.

"Slavery-like conditions", as defined by Brazilian law, include debt bondage and work that violates human dignity. The MPT added that the situation also constitutes "forced labour", as many workers had their wages withheld and faced excessive costs for terminating their contracts. BYD said affected workers had been moved to hotels.

What's New Following the Christmas Eve crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight carrying 67 people from Baku to Grozny, near the Kazakh Caspian city of Aktau, which left 25 survivors, global attention has turned to passenger plane accidents worldwide this year.

An Embraer passenger plane flying from Azerbaijan to Russia crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan on Wednesday with 62 passengers and five crew on board, Kazakh authorities announced, saying that 27 people had survived.

Officials say an Azerbaijani airliner with 67 people onboard crashed Wednesday near the Kazakhstani city of Aktau. At least 32 survived.