Electric Car Manufacturer Vows To Hire More Californians Amid Labor Dispute
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Officials with a Chinese electric car plant in downtown L.A. are responding to accusations their workforce is not being paid according to the law.
KNX1070's Margaret Carrero reports Build Your Dreams Auto, or BYD, is receiving $2 million dollars in tax subsidies from the city and was touted as a high-dollar job creator by then Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa when the manufacturer opened for business three years ago.
State officials have since fined the company for paying some Chinese workers $1.50 per hour and failing to provide rest breaks.
In a written statement, BYD says it's reached out to the state's labor commissioner in hopes of reaching a resolution. A company spokesperson said that the workers in question are visiting from China to train their American workforce, which BYD plans to build up by hiring more Californians, whom they insist will be paid lawfully.
KNX has reached out to Mayor Eric Garcetti but has not yet received comment.
