The BYD factory located in Camaçari, Bahia, is once again under tension, less than two years after a major labor scandal in the Brazilian automotive sector. Currently, workers are mobilized seeking wage increases and immediate action against abuses, adding to the allegations of sexual harassment.
The Metallurgists' Union presented its salary agenda for 2026 to the automaker this Monday (13). In addition to the request for a 15% adjustment and raising the food voucher to R$ 850, the entity demands a reduction in health plan costs and greater freedom of action within the plant, including access to cafeterias and all shifts.
The first rounds of negotiations are scheduled for next week. This movement occurs against the backdrop of a recent Profit and Results Sharing agreement, which could reach R$ 10 thousand per employee, distributed in two installments: one in July and another in January 2027, conditional on meeting performance goals.
The most sensitive aspect of the agenda is not financial. According to Júlio Bonfim, union president, formal complaints of moral and sexual harassment have been gathered. These allegations are directed at managers, both Chinese and Brazilian, who allegedly committed acts against female employees at the unit. Although the leader did not specify the number of incidents, the period, or whether authorities were notified, the union stated that it will bring the issue to the negotiation table, in addition to considering involving the Public Prosecutor's Office and seeking judicial avenues if the practices persist.
The escalation of tensions began at an assembly held on Thursday (9), called to approve the base date agenda. According to the union, the meeting proceeded normally until three military police vehicles arrived at the location. The entity alleges that approximately 14 armed police officers with rifles remained in front of the factory, which allegedly coerced workers into ending the protest and returning to work.
Union members also reported that BYD representatives circulated among the participants and that the gates were kept open to disperse the mobilization, attributing the encouragement of the corporation to the company itself. To discuss this incident, the union scheduled a conversation with the PM Command. Both BYD and the Military Police of Bahia did not issue a response by the end of the original report, published by Times Brasil, when contacted on Sunday (12).
Bonfim acknowledged that the automaker fulfills its role in job creation and that most hired workers originate from Bahia, but he highlighted that the relationship between part of the administration and local employees constitutes the main problem. The current situation reignites a previous chapter: in December 2024, a task force identified Chinese workers in precarious conditions at the automaker's construction site, hired by the contractor Jinjiang. The Labor Public Prosecutor's Office found overcrowded housing, passport retention, exhausting shifts, and significant salary deductions, resulting in the rescue of 220 people.
The commercial success of the title Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced did not prevent a crisis at Ubisoft, leading employees at the Barcelona studio to initiate a three-day strike. The stoppage aims to protest the proposal to lay off 51 employees, which was presented as part of the company's global corporate restructuring.
The Barcelona studio was involved in the development of the remake Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, which reached the milestone of 2 million copies sold on its first day, as disclosed by Ubisoft itself. The strike was called by the Spanish union Coordinadora Sindical del Videojuego (CSVI) and is taking place while the company formalizes negotiations regarding the restructuring of the Barcelona unit.
The union argues that the layoffs were implemented even after years of team dedication and despite the strong sales performance of the new Assassin’s Creed. CSVI stated in a press release that the company uses a so-called 'strategic change' to justify the cuts, resulting in job losses after long periods of dedicated work.
Manel Cota, a technical and gameplay animator at Ubisoft Barcelona, shared on social media that the local team was entirely responsible for developing all the underwater sequences in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. He lamented that the same group that worked on these parts of the game is now subject to layoffs, alleging that Ubisoft considers them worthy of such treatment.
During the strike period, workers demand that Ubisoft revise the restructuring plan. Key demands include the cancellation of the 51 positions to be eliminated, assurance that there will be no future large-scale layoffs, the reinstatement of the old remote work policy, which allowed up to 60% of the workday from home, in addition to promotions and salary increases that, according to employees, had been previously promised.
In response to the start of the strike, Ubisoft expressed respect for the employees' right to protest. The company explains that the restructuring is part of a worldwide plan focused on cost reduction and directing resources to projects deemed strategic. If the proposal is accepted, Ubisoft Barcelona will focus exclusively on projects related to the Rainbow Six franchise. However, the company emphasized that the process is still in the collective consultation phase and that no final decision has been made.
Potential layoffs in Barcelona had already been signaled at the beginning of June, when information circulated about Ubisoft's intention to close the studios in Winnipeg and Belgrade, in addition to reorganizing its operations in Spain. At that time, it was estimated that approximately 380 positions could be impacted by changes across various units of the company. The recent announcement of dismissals, just a few days after the launch of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, reignited the debate about the constant restructuring faced by the gaming industry, even with commercially successful titles.
The State Labor Inspectorate under the Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction of Uzbekistan has recommended that employers change the organization of labor for employees working outdoors due to abnormally hot weather.
The agency noted that high air temperatures significantly increase the probability of heatstroke, sunstroke, dehydration, and cardiovascular complications. The Inspectorate emphasized that ensuring safe working conditions is a direct responsibility of the employer.
Employers are advised, if possible, to reduce the volume of work outdoors or temporarily suspend it between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM. It is also suggested to avoid heavy physical exertion during this time. Furthermore, the Inspectorate insists that workers be provided with a sufficient amount of drinking water, shaded or cool resting places be organized, and regular breaks be ensured.
The Inspectorate also recommends not allowing employees who have not undergone medical examination to work. For personnel performing outdoor duties, breathable clothing and headwear protecting against solar radiation must be provided. Special attention should be paid to conducting briefings on the signs of heatstroke and the procedure for first aid in case of health deterioration.
Previously, Uzhydromet warned that from July 13, 2026, to July 17, 2026, an extremely hot air mass from the south will enter the territory of Uzbekistan. According to forecasts, daytime temperatures may reach plus 41–43 degrees Celsius, and up to plus 44–46 degrees Celsius in northern, southern, and desert regions.
Against the backdrop of abnormal heat, temporary restrictions have already been introduced in several regions. Truck traffic is restricted in the regions of Surkhandarya and Kashkadarya, while in the regions of Khorezm and Navoi, as well as in Karakalpakstan, the operation of some kindergartens has been temporarily suspended. Starting from July 15, 2026, the speed of trains on elevated sections of the Tashkent metro has been reduced from 60 to 40 km/h.
