The Camaçari Industrial Complex in Bahia attracted worldwide attention following BYD’s announcement in 2023 that it would be home to the electric vehicle company’s largest factory outside China the industrial hub was Brazil’s first planned petrochemical complex forming the centerpiece of a national industrial development project that ran until the end of the 1980s The complex has historically contributed to economic development in the region by generating employment and providing job training opportunities amid the liberalization of trade and rise of foreign competition the complex underwent significant structural changes Camaçari has always hosted industries that complement the petrochemical chain but its twenty-first century expansion was sparked by the arrival of the automobile industry American automaker Ford set up shop in the 2000s Ford closed its doors in 2021 and halted production of the low-margin light vehicles EcoSport the complex is undergoing yet another process of sectoral expansion attracting investments from electric vehicle manufacturers and renewable energy companies the new BYD factory is being built on the former Ford site the petrochemical center first emerged as an industrial center and it is yet again poised to transform into a green industrial center Alfredo Santos is the General Secretary of CUT-Bahia and press coordinator for the Chemical Fertilizers and Chemical Terminals Workers’ Union (Sindiquímica). In the following interview Santos speaks with Phenomenal World editor Maria Sikorski about Camaçari’s role in Brazil’s project of green reindustrialization from the perspective of the working class The transcript has been edited for length and clarity Maria Sikorski: Can you tell us about the history of the Camaçari complex and its relationship to Brazilian industrial policy Alfredo santos: The Camaçari complex was built between the mid-1970s and the early 1980s It emerged as a tripartite ownership model: the shareholder composition included national private capital A raw materials plant controlled by a public company The petrochemical plant supplied the basis of the production chain for naphtha The tripartite ownership model is an example of how industrialization in Brazil has only occurred with strong state participation through Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) financing Both when the complex was first set up and today private companies—including Chinese companies that have recently set up shop—have received funding from the Bank It is the Brazilian state that finances industrialization Camaçari continued to grow throughout the 1980s and 1990s since the opening up of trade under the Collor government (1990–1992) and more markedly during the government of Fernando Henrique Cardoso (1995–2002) the complex has faced a crisis of productivity and international competitiveness and as a result has suffered from reductions in investment and factory closures the complex accounted for more than 30,000 direct jobs with the first Lula government (2003–2010) the Brazilian state once again invested in industrialization but indirectly: Petrobras became an important investor in Brazil’s so-called “big players.” One outcome of this process is Braskem—Petrobras now holds 47 percent of the company’s shares Some international competitiveness has been regained but the production of central raw materials and the thermoplastic resin chain has been increasingly monopolized resulting in the closure of several companies that were unable to compete with the big players The Brazilian petrochemical sector today faces a massive crisis The Camaçari complex is unable to compete internationally The fertilizer sector is a case in point: 85 percent of the fertilizers used by Brazilian agribusiness are imported The thermoplastic chain imports around half of the inputs it uses This influx of imported products into the petrochemical chains happens for two reasons The domestic cost of the chains has become very high compared to more modern chains that are gas-based instead of naphtha-based and Indian industries export a product at a lower price than our domestic production cost both because of the lack of technological advancements in our plants and because of environmental factors: the US but is extremely damaging to the environment Brazil does not produce gas from fracking and even has environmental restrictions on its use the price of Brazilian natural gas is up to five times higher than the US price This undermines the international competitiveness of our petrochemical industry If the country doesn’t have an industrial policy aimed at preserving the domestic market the tendency is for all these industries to go under MS: Bahia has been identified nationally and internationally as an essential part of Brazil’s green reindustrialization project and the global energy transition It is the state that produces the most renewable energy from solar and wind sources in the country and has attracted a lot of foreign investment does the entry of other supply chains represent a resumption of Camaçari’s role in national development represented the start of the automotive chain in the Camaçari complex Ford closed its operations and more recently Chinese companies such as BYD have started to invest in the auto supply chain Other Chinese companies in the renewable energy sector The process of attracting BYD to Bahia involved a significant amount of state subsidies The government of Bahia made electric cars exempt from the motor vehicle ownership tax (IPVA) from 2024 BYD also received public incentives for utilizing the land that belonged to Ford and the company also received funding from the BNDES.  Although the BYD plant is promised to actually function as a factory these companies are only operating as assemblers The higher value-added stages of the supply chain are not yet in Bahia The petrochemical complex has great potential for battery production but the batteries for these vehicles have yet to be produced here There’s also a potential for lithium processing as well as in the plastics industry for the production of parts but so far BYD’s promise has not materialized What can we demand from these companies to accompany the state subsidies This is the role of the Brazilian state in the project of reindustrialization BYD process lithium in Brazil and manufacture batteries here that it use local industries to manufacture parts that it actually have parts of the production chain operating here there was a similar debate in the petrochemical industry The national content policy for the oil product stream—abandoned after the 2016 coup—required every industry that provided services to Petrobras to have a percentage of its machinery produced in Brazil The country’s shipbuilding industry was reborn during that period and Brazilian industry can’t compete without some form of state incentive There is no industrialization without state participation If the industrialization project doesn’t require counterparts to foreign investment Brazil will simply play a role in another country’s industrial policy No company decides to expand its operations to another country altruistically The question is what we demand of investors in order to satisfy national interests as well Brazilian industrialization was very dependent on the United States If we simply replace US imperialism with Chinese imperialism We can’t simply cater to the interests of those who want to invest What does the country gain when it subsidizes their profit-making MS: How does the Bahia trade union movement view the role of the New Industry Brazil (NIB) program in promoting the national interest in the country’s green reindustrialization project It’s difficult to analyze without observing the real impact through data and the program hasn’t yet shown what it will become But one thing that’s important to keep in mind when talking about green industrialization is: who pays the price but I’d rather work at Petrobras than in the alcohol industry.” The green industry cannot be made economically viable by reducing the cost of the workforce What we have seen is that the supposedly most sustainable sectors of the industry today are the ones with the most precarious jobs If biodiesel has a higher production cost than diesel how do you ensure that the green alternative reaches the pump at the same price By making the workforce in the biodiesel production chain more precarious This contradiction exists not only in Brazil but all over the world: the dirty industries are the ones that offer the best working conditions including from the point of view of workers’ health You only have to look at the working conditions in a sugar cane mill or in the aluminum recycling industry with can collectors Someone might say that waste pickers aren’t part of the recycling industry but the fact is that the recycling industry only exists in Brazil because of waste pickers Brazil is the record holder in aluminum recycling not because it has a great logistics project but because there are a lot of impoverished people who need to collect cans to survive and who foster a production chain that is extremely profitable Electric cars are another example: due to the technology used the sector generates far fewer jobs than the combustion car industry It’s much simpler engineering: the electric vehicle has a body In short: several other factories are needed to supply products and parts for this industry The trade union movement’s criticism of renewable energy chains follows the same line Bahia is the state that produces the most clean energy in Brazil and basically “exports wind” to the South and Southeast of the country without any compensation for the communities where the wind farms—which have a huge social and environmental impact—or the solar panels are installed the parts of the production chain that generate the most jobs We are left with the worst part of the whole supply chain: the one with the greatest impact and lowest return This is a localized reproduction of the same dynamic that can be observed between countries at the center and periphery Will the role of the Northeast in Brazilian industrialization be reduced to generating energy and carbon credits to be consumed in the South and Southeast The Northeast is the region in Brazil that produces the most solar energy but it doesn’t have a photovoltaic panel factory I believe that the NIB needs to include a geopolitical discussion about Brazil’s green industrialization objectives Are we going to pay for the energy transition of the countries that have historically polluted the most Will our role be to generate clean energy and carbon credits for the countries of the global North to consume it’s the weaker that end paying for the energy transition least complex and least job-generating parts of the green production chains are those in Brazil or other peripheral countries This is the persistent international division of labor The most precarious jobs stay in the periphery and the most technologically-advanced and well-paid jobs stay in the center of capitalism The NIB needs to engage in dialogue with the Chinese interest entering Brazil to demand counterparts to the state subsidy that would reverse our subordinate role in the international division of labor we are in favor of promoting green industry but we argue that it should come with state funding When the economic viability of biodiesel comes from the precariousness of the workforce the state is making the worker pay for the energy transition we advocate for a truly just energy transition MS: So how would you summarize the trade union movement’s demand for Brazil’s green reindustrialization as: The trade union movement’s demand is that green industrialization should not lose sight of the fact that workers are a fundamental part of this process and other conditions of these jobs generated through green industrialization must be equal to or better than what was observed in previous industrialization processes Under no circumstances can we continue to use job insecurity as a mechanism to make green industry economically viable but it needs to happen bearing in mind that workers are also part of the environment BYD exemplifies transformations in Chinese industrial policy and the evolution of Mexico's auto industry The international expansion of Chinese electric vehicles Paolo Gerbaudo Read the full article Alejandra González Jiménez Read the full article Read the full article Subscribe to Phenomenal World Sources a weekly digest of compelling research across the social sciences Design & Development by Partner & Partners Please Register or Sign in to view this content Quantum Commodity Intelligence is a premium paid subscription service for professionals in the oil Quantum Ammonia service subscribers have access to: Get in touch with us for subscription information on all Quantum platforms Essential digital access to quality FT 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All rights reserved The plan is for the first Chinese electric cars made in Brazil to hit the market in March 2025 is building a factory in the state of Bahia and this project serves as the best standard-bearer for the current sweet moment in the relationship between Beijing and Brasilia The facility is expected to create thousands of jobs and is heavy with symbolism charge Everything seemed to be going smoothly until a scandal broke out: Brazilian labor inspectors rescued 163 Chinese workers from the plant’s construction site of subjecting them to conditions analogous to slavery and some of them had their passports withheld Accusations of slavery raised the company’s hackles has denied characterizations of the situation as forced labor and says that a misunderstanding has taken place A BYD executive accused “foreign forces” of trying to defame the company and damage the two countries’ relationship victims have left the unsanitary barracks in which they had been housed and are currently occupying hotel rooms paid for by the company The Brazilian Foreign Ministry has halted temporary work visa issuance to BYD (whose initials stand for Build Your Dreams) one of the world’s leading manufacturers of electric cars Brazil is a major showcase for the corporation’s international expansion and its largest market outside China BYD’s cars are increasingly common among the country’s hundreds of thousands of Uber drivers Although 90% of its electric vehicles are used in China one in every five sold abroad are purchased in Brazil The Brazil-based factory is also emblematic of growing Chinese influence in the country and the rest of Latin America fertile land in the tough commercial and political battle that China is waging with the United States President Xi Jinping inaugurated the Changay mega-port in Peru in November which will save 25 days of crossing time for ships coming from Asia BYD’s factory is located in the city of Camaçari where one of Ford’s primary manufacturing sites was located before it left Brazil in 2021 Its departure was seen as the end of an era because Ford was the first large automobile company to locate in the South American country Inspectors from the Brazilian Ministry of Labor showed up on December 23 at the lodgings of the Chinese workers building the plant that will produce 100% electric and hybrid cars and discovered that their employers had withheld their passports and part of their salaries the ministry said in an official statement detailing irregularities that were found at the site They slept in bunk beds without mattresses There were so few bathrooms that they had to get up at 4 a.m employees often worked shifts that lasted more than 10 hours Based on these observations, the inspectors have accused the employers of holding the 163 workers in “conditions analogous to slavery.” In Brazil, which became the last country in the Americas to abolish slavery in 1888 but also subjecting employees to undignified or degrading conditions authorities publish a so-called “dirty list” of the companies that have been convicted for having kept workers in conditions reminiscent of those suffered by the African people who were brought by force to the country during three centuries as a source of free labor authorities removed more than 3,000 workers from such situations The Ministry of Labor has summoned Jinjiang Group and BYD for a January 7 hearing during which they will be advised of measures they can take to avoid an investigation the BYD project is doubly beneficial because it strengthens his plan for reindustrialization and reinforces his own environmental credentials Upon receiving the Chinese leader at the presidential palace Lula announced that the first electric cars manufactured in Brazil will leave the BYD plant in Bahia next March and will create 10,000 jobs by the end of the year Li said that “it will be the largest and most advanced electric vehicle production plant in the world outside China.” The company plans to manufacture some 150,000 vehicles in Brazil in the first year and to double production in the second year with an eye on expanding into the Latin American market BYD is building other production plants in Hungary The Latin American market is enormously important to BYD in its race with Elon Musk’s Tesla for leadership in the global sale of electric vehicles. Another key lies in regional production of the lithium required for the cars’ batteries which has expressed interest in Mexico due to the country’s booming demand for pickup trucks is still in the decision-making process in regards to the location of its new Mexican factory despite many the many uncertainties surrounding the return of Donald Trump BYD is also considering building a factory in Peru Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition ¿Quieres añadir otro usuario a tu suscripción ¿Por qué estás viendo esto? cambia tu suscripción a la modalidad Premium Cada uno accederá con su propia cuenta de email lo que os permitirá personalizar vuestra experiencia en EL PAÍS ¿Tienes una suscripción de empresa? Accede aquí para contratar más cuentas En el caso de no saber quién está usando tu cuenta, te recomendamos cambiar tu contraseña aquí. 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O endereço abaixo não existe na globo.com Today Bridgestone Brazil announced an additional investment in its tire production plant in Camaçari Keeping up with the growing market demand for high-performance tires the company is investing more than R$ 270 million in the modernization and expansion of the factory which brings the company's total investments announced since 2021 to more than R$ 970 million for the Bahia plant president of Bridgestone Latin America South attended the official ceremony alongside Rui Costa governor of the State of Bahia and his team “This investment is part of our strategic plan for sustainable growth in Brazil focused on the premium tire market and the production of tires for more sustainable and electric/hybrid vehicles which reinforces our commitment and the country's strategic position for the company’s global business,” said Vicente “This expansion is also a major capability play for Bridgestone as we look to delivery on sustainable solutions journey with products that will be incorporated with digital readiness.” This second phase of expansion and modernization of the Bahia plant will allow for an increase in production capacity thanks to new manufacturing technologies and the growing application of industry 4.0 concepts including artificial intelligence control technology that increases productivity and the application of knowledge and data in a digital manufacturing environment Aligned with the company's vision of generating social and customer value Bridgestone's plant in Camaçari is preparing for growth in demand for electric/hybrid and sustainable vehicles – and the high-performance tires to equip them intended for the original equipment manufacturers The Bahia plant achieved another milestone with its earlier expansion in 2016 undertaken 10 years after it began operations Bridgestone has already invested nearly R$1.5 billion in expanding the facility’s production structure from 2006 to 2020 Bridgestone Brazil operates another tire factory in Santo André (SP) and two Bandag retread factories Bridgestone’s latest investment in Brazil aligns with the Bridgestone E8 Commitment that defines the eight values to which the company commits to co-creating together with society its partners and customers toward a sustainable society This investment in manufacturing supports the “Extension” and “Economy” values of the Bridgestone E8 Commitment This investment is part of our strategic plan for sustainable growth in Brazil which reinforces our commitment and the country's strategic position for the company’s global business If you're a journalist with questions about this story or other company news, please contact us Firestone Launches Affinity AS Touring Tire to Enhance the Ride Quality Bridgestone to Exhibit at 40th Space Symposium Empowering Lunar Mobility from the Ground Up Under Extreme Conditions Bridgestone to Debut First MASTERCORE Tire for Aggregate Segment with Enhanced Load Capacity and More Tire Life Bridgestone Unveils Two New Tires with ENLITEN Technology and its Advanced Digital Service Dispatch Solution at TMC 2025 (ANS - Camaçari) - Last Saturday patron saint of the municipality of Camaçari it was announced that the Sons of Don Bosco will open a school in that city The announcement came from the Bishop of the Diocese of Camaçari who in breaking the news expressed all their enthusiasm The celebration was attended by those in charge of the Salesian Province "St Louis Gonzaga" of Brazil-Recife (BRE) and the Salesian educational network Bishop Petrini also emphasized that the Salesian presence is extremely important especially from the educational point of view Bishop Emeritus expressed true satisfaction in seeing the growth of the diocese through the collaboration and commitment of religious in the service of education The presence in Camaçari will be the first of the Salesians in Bahia outside the state capital which will be named "Dom Bosco," will initially cater to Primary Education students with extracurricular afternoon activities offered as well "There will definitely be an elementary school and the BRE Provincial spoke of the new pathway opened by this presence in Camaçari nor the solicitude of the pastor of this diocese; they will not lack the fraternity of our Province and even less will they lack the work and courage for the education and total salvation of the future generations of this city," he said Officializing the opening of the new unit of the Salesians of Bahia by reading the decree of the Rector Major of the Salesians Inácio blessed the institution's new path in the municipality who attended our Salesian house in the ‘Nazareth’ parish in Salvador thus uniting our stories in the charity of the Saints," he concluded educators and members of the Camaçari community assigned as Director of the Salesian school "Dom Bosco" in Camaçari; Fr Pastoral Coordinator of the Salesian high school in Salvador; Fr Pastoral Coordinator of the Salesian school "Dom Bosco - Paralela"; Cristina França and Deraldo Brito Educational Manager and Administrative Manager ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007 This site also uses third-party cookies to improve user experience and for statistical purposes By scrolling through this page or by clicking on any of its elements Bridgestone Brazil  Bridgestone Brazil has announced a new investment in its tire manufacturing plant in the city of Camaçari Following the increasing demand for high-tech and premium tires in the country and important gains in market share in Brazil and South America the company is announcing a total of more than R$ 700 million (approximately US$ 139 million) in the modernization and expansion of the plant with an increase in it production capacity by more than 20% The expansion will begin by the fourth quarter of 2021 and will create 420 new jobs in the region “This investment is part of Bridgestone’s mid term business plan for sustainable growth in Brazil focused on the premium tires market and production of tires for electric/hybrid vehicles and reinforces our commitment and the strategic importance of Brazil for our company,” said Fabio Fossen President of Bridgestone Latin America South “I would also like to thank and recognize our valued customers and our incredible and dedicated employees without whom this investment in Bahia would not have been possible,” complemented Fossen This new investment is part of the Bridgestone Group recently announced mid long-term business plan to become a sustainable solutions company by 2050 The plant expansion and modernization project include an increase in annual production from 3.5 million to 4.3 million tires with new manufacturing technologies and the increasing application of Industry 4.0 concepts In line with the company's vision to generate social and customer value Bridgestone's Camaçari plant is gearing up for the growing demand for eco-friendly electric/hybrid vehicles and the highperformance tires to equip them employs more than 900 employees and benefits more that 400 people indirectly intended for the original equipment Bridgestone do Brasil Ind 18º andar Cidade Monções – 04575-000 – São Paulo and has received more than R$1 billion (approximately US$ 199 million) in investments since its inauguration Bridgestone is also known for its social and environmental initiatives focused on generating a positive impact in the community where we operate: Bridgestone do Brasil manufacturing footprint includes a tire plant in the city of Santo André and two Bandag retread production plants located in the city of Campinas All manufacturing plants have received several different recognitions and distinctions in addition to receiving multiple awards in quality 2021 BRL/USD exchange rate at 5,0022 by BCB Bridgestone Brazil (BSBR) is a Latin America South business unit and subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Latin America Leader in sustainable mobility and advanced solutions manufactures and markets a diverse portfolio of original equipment and replacement tires tire-centric solutions and mobility solutions which generate social value and customer value through its production and sales units in the country Guided by its global corporate social responsibility commitment Bridgestone is dedicated to improving the way people move work and play and to building a sustainable future of mobility BSBR manufactures and markets a wide range of tire models and sizes for cars as well as for agricultural machinery and off-road vehicles all of them certified and having received awards in several quality BSBR markets its products through a large network of poin If you're a journalist with questions about this story or other company news, please contact us. Firestone Launches Affinity AS Touring Tire to Enhance the Ride Quality, Handling of Mainstream Sedans and CUVs ProductionTen-fold expansion | Brazilian chemicals giant unveils $1.5bn growth plans for green hydrogen plantUnigel’s 60MW electrolyser project currently under construction in Bahia state The big news is the closure of the Camaçari Taubaté and Troller plants in Brazil Main production at the Camaçari and Taubaté plants will “cease immediately,” although some parts production will continue for a few months to build up inventories for aftermarket sales The Troller plant in Horizonte will close in the fourth quarter and the moves mean the company will no longer sell the EcoSport Also Read: Ford’s Troller T4 Off-Roader Refreshed For 2020, Remains A Brazil-Only Affair Ford didn’t say how many jobs will be affected but the Camaçari plant employed approximately 4,600 people roughly 1,370 people worked at the Taubaté engine plant The move is pretty drastic, but Ford noted the “COVID-19 pandemic amplifies persistent industry idle capacity and slow sales that have resulted in years of significant losses.” The automaker also said they’re not abandoning Brazil as they will maintain their product development center in Bahia proving ground in Tatuí as well as their regional headquarters in São Paulo In a statement, Ford CEO Jim Farley said “With more than a century in South America and Brazil actions to create a healthy and sustainable business.” He added asset-light business model by ceasing production in Brazil and serving customers with some of the best and most exciting vehicles in our global portfolio.” Speaking of the latter, Ford said Brazil will receive the Bronco and Mustang Mach 1 as well as the new Transit and Ranger pickup Ford went on to say they’re planning to “accelerate the introduction of several new connected and electrified models.” Ford is taking a roughly $4.1 (£3.0 / €3.3) billion hit from the move including around $2.5 (£1.8 / €2.0) billion in cash that will be used for separation termination and settlement agreements as well as other payments Ford announced on January 11 that it will end its production of cars in Brazil shutting down its three plants in the cities of Camaçari But tens of thousands more jobs are directly associated with its production chain the global automotive industry is undergoing a transformation process driven by new and emerging technologies in connected services with consumer demands and regulatory items reshaping the market.” a massive destruction of jobs and wage cuts globally being enacted by Ford and the entire auto industry The latest wave of job and cost cuts began several years ago escalating in 2018 and 2019 with a major downturn in the auto industry already then on the horizon Ford announced a worldwide restructuring aimed at a multibillion-dollar reduction in costs “The goal is to streamline the organization It will mean a reduction in workforce,” explained Mark Truby the company’s vice president of global communications the company fired 7,000 white-collar workers and laid off 12,000 workers as it closed five European plants 3,000 direct employees and 1,500 outsourced workers were laid off not to mention the approximately 20,000 workers at the related auto parts plants The slashing of jobs being promoted now by Ford follows thousands of other layoffs in Brazil’s auto industry that occurred last year Last December, Mercedes-Benz announced that it would shut down its car production in Brazil, firing the 370 workers at its luxury vehicle plant. Renault-Nissan slashed more than 1,000 jobs in 2020, and Volkswagen announced that it would cut one third of its workforce having opened on Monday a voluntary layoff program for this purpose Ford’s announcement of the closure of its plants was answered by workers with protests contract and outsourced workers from the Ford Northeast Industrial Complex in Camaçari demonstrated at the factory gates demanding to keep their jobs A new protest was held the next day in front of the Legislative Assembly of Bahia (Alba) where representatives of the Camaçari Metalworkers Union met with Alba President Nelson Leal where Ford produces engines and transmissions Workers voted to set a vigil to block both people and materials from entering and exiting the factory for an indefinite period already preparing a betrayal of the workers’ resistance to job cuts and the closure of plants linked to the CTB union federation and the Maoist Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) According to the president of the union and PCdoB activist Júlio Bonfim: “[The] way out so that thousands of workers don’t lose their jobs .. [is] the construction of an auto parts industrial park .. or either the arrival of another automaker [that] can guarantee jobs the intense flow in the economy of the Metropolitan Region [of Salvador].” This corporatist vision is the same advocated by the governor of Bahia whom Bonfim is joining in a “working group,” which “is looking for companies interested in investing in the industrial park where Ford Camaçari’s headquarters used to be considered the largest automotive plant in South America.” The Metalworkers Union of Taubaté and Region (Sindmetau) linked to the CUT union federation and the PT is working to divert the Ford workers’ struggle through empty demands to the state were mobilized to participate in a meeting held Wednesday on Sindmetau The main measure adopted at this meeting was “the holding of a public hearing in the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo,” advocated by PT state congressman Teonilio Barba who declared that “the intention is to seek greater involvement of the state government.” The CUT’s president also declared: “All pressure is needed at this time The country is deindustrializing because the government is encouraging deindustrialization.” The unions and parties like the PT and PCdoB as they work to divert workers’ opposition into safe channels within the bourgeois state seek to establish an opposition to the administration of Brazil’s fascistic President Jair Bolsonaro’s that is based on the reactionary interests of Brazilian national capitalism Speaking to his supporters outside the government palace on Tuesday “I’m sorry for 5,000 jobs lost,” but “Ford has failed to tell the truth.” According to him “They want subsidies.” “Do you want to keep giving them 20 billion [reais] as you have done in recent years?” he said in reference to the incentives paid by the Brazilian government to Ford since 1999 (equivalent to US$ 3.85 billion) the president of the National Association of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (Anfavea) declared that these subsidies would have functioned as “a way to correct the distortions of the Brazilian tax system,” according to O Globo “We have been pointing for years to measures that need to be taken to improve competitiveness in Brazil,” said Moraes This consists mainly of a pro-capitalist tax reform Anfavea’s arguments are not in any way different from those of unions and bourgeois nationalist parties like the PT and PCdoB The CUT and other union federations for years have advanced as their fundamental program the creation of tax incentives for companies They criticize the governments that succeeded the PT in power for not having an “auto program” to stimulate competitiveness for production in Brazil the PT’s Governor Rui Costa declared in a note on Ford’s closure: “Unfortunately there are hundreds of industries that are closing since we have a country that does not take care of its economy does not guarantee institutional security to its investors and does not make the necessary reforms—including the tax [reform] that we need so badly.” While fighting for the competitiveness of Brazilian capitalism the unions are employing against Ford workers today the same methods they used to suppress resistance to the closing of the São Bernardo do Campo plant in 2019 did everything to wear out a 42-day strike isolating the workers locally and preventing independent actions It ended up signing an agreement that accepted the closing of the plant The union then acted in practice as the representative of a business group interested in buying the plant negotiating bank loans for the group and offering low wages to attract its investments Ford workers urgently need to take the reins of this struggle and lead it in another direction It is necessary to break with the corporatist unions forming independent rank-and-file committees to unify the struggle among all the plants and with the working class as a whole It is also of fundamental importance to overcome the capitalist and nationalist perspective defended by the unions Against the malign global restructuring plans of the transnational auto corporations workers must advance their own strategy of a globally unified struggle which is fought for by the World Socialist Web Site and the International Committee of the Fourth International Você está usando um navegador antigo e que não tem suporte a muitas de nossas funcionalidades . Por favor faça a atualizaçãor para uma melhor experiência Stay on top of everything Braskem is doing You can change your cookie settings by turning on or off analytical and third-party cookies right here. You cannot turn-off strictly necessary cookies. You can find out more about cookies aqui Please note that some features of the website will not work without cookies President Lula will reportedly raise the issue as part of trade talks during his forthcoming visit to China Authorities in the Brazilian state of Bahia are reportedly in talks with BYD Auto hoping to persuade the Chinese automaker to take over a former Ford factory in the city of Camaçari The governor of Bahia, Jerônimo Rodrigues, tweeted on 27 February that Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva would be talking about “the use of the old Ford factory, in Camaçari, for the production of electric cars” during his forthcoming trip to China “The resumption of industrial activity here will be a gain for Bahia and the Northeast,” Rodrigues added [See more: Cotton rides the boom in Brazilian exports to China] Reactivation of the plant has the potential to create thousands of jobs in a region plagued by inequality A Brazilian couple who were murdered in their home had been brutally tortured before their deaths with the killers eating some of their body parts was allegedly raped in front of her husband Juvenal as a criminal gang tried to force them to give them a large sum of money The couple's mutilated bodies were found buried in the back yard of their house in Camaçari, north east Brazil, with Mrs Amaral missing several internal organs, including her ovaries. Daniel Santos Neves, 29 and Carlos Alberto Neres, 25, were arrested with three teenagers, aged 13, 14 and 16 after an anonymous tip-off.   Detective Maria Tereza Santos, head of homicide division said; 'It appears that the accused practised cannibalism. 'Internal organs, including the ovaries and fallopian tubes had been ripped out of the female's body and other body parts are missing. There is no indication of where these organs are. 'We found that soft tissue had been deliberately cut and sliced from the bones of the victims. We are also investigating whether consumption took place while the victims were still alive. 'Forensic experts have not conclusively proved the accused ate parts of their victims, but the evidence is pointing to this fact.' The bodies of the husband and wife were found decaying and buried in a shallow grave on January 9 after concerned neighbours reported the couple missing. According to cops, the pair were targeted by a local gang looking for 70,000 reais (£15,000) which the attackers believed had been hidden in the residence following the recent success of a compensation claim. The grandmother of one of the teenagers worked as a cleaner for the victims and is believed to have shared the couples' 'good news' with her grandson. She is not implicated in the crime. 'The teenage grandson, apparently knew the routine of the victims and this was a premeditated crime,' said Det. Santos. 'It appears the suspects set out to rape, kill and we believe eat the victims as part of some sort of depraved ritual.' Forensic experts revealed Mrs Amaral  suffered 'horrendous' injuries before she died. Her husband was brutally beaten, stabbed and forced to watch as his wife was raped in front of him after the evil assailants reportedly failed in their bid to extract where the money was being kept. Det Santos said 'We believe the accused broke into the couple's house on Friday 5 January after learning that the Amarals had come into some funds. 'It appears the victims were held hostage and mercilessly tortured for at least 24 hours before being killed. 'We believe Cristina was sexually abused and raped while her husband was forced to watch. The victim's arm was amputated while she was alive, and they ripped out her ovaries and fallopian tubes. These body parts are still missing. 'Her husband was also viciously tortured. The killers allegedly sliced open his back with a knife while he was alive. The suspects confessed that they hung their victims before they died and beheaded the wife.' The couples' mutilated bodies was found burned and buried together in a makeshift grave in the dirt yard at the back of the house. The suspects were taken to the property by investigators and allegedly revealed the spot where the corpses had been buried. When police swooped on the gang, the suspects were allegedly found with a 12-gauge shotgun, a pistol and a car believed to be owned by the victims. 'Everyone is shocked and appalled by the vicious and senseless killing of a couple who lived a quiet life in the neighbourhood and who were known as decent upstanding individuals,' said Det. Santos. 'The families of the victims are still reeling from the untimely and cruel nature of their deaths and horrified at the possibility that their parents' body parts were eaten in this barbaric crime.' Investigators said the adults will answer a catalogue of charges including robbery, torture, murder, concealment of a corpse, illegal possession of weapons and corruption of minors. The adolescents are charged with rape and robbery. Major terror attack 'was just HOURS away' before it was foiled by the special forces and police:... Victim of acid attack 'plotted by his ex-partner who teamed up with a gang' dies in hospital six... 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With views to the beach and garden, the main block is made by a large room, which organizes the circulation and provides cross ventilation, picking the sea breeze up to the bedrooms distribution. © Leonardo FinottiGenerous circulations are explored here protected laterally by trusses applied on wood structure like the tala-de-dendê ceiling and Bege Bahia marble floor reinforces its harmonic insertion at the landscape You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email he was making his daily journey to the police HQ in Camacari and giving an interview to local radio on his mobile phone about the police's struggle against local drug traffickers "I heard some bangs," one of the shows two presenters announced "Something serious has happened to our chief It can't be anything else," said his co-presenter adding: "The chief was just talking to us Chaves had been killed as he spoke to journalists from Bahia's Lider FM radio station and to thousands of local listeners about attempts to improve security the voice of the police chief's wife can be heard breaking into a hysterical cry the police chief's car was ambushed by gunmen "He was talking," his wife can be heard screaming on the recording "He was giving an interview on the radio." Producers at Lider FM allowed the audio from the police chief's mobile phone to roll for several minutes following the ambush until a bystander appears to comfort the woman and the line finally goes dead "Stay calm," a man's voice can be heard saying the show's presenters urged police to rush to the scene Something serious has just happened." Local radio presenter Marco Antonio Ribeiro told the G1 news site: "I was finishing the interview when the crime happened We were meant to do the interview in the studio but he couldn't make it The interview was about his work combating drug trafficking in the region." Camacari is home to around 230,000 Brazilians and like many parts of the country has been suffering increasing violence and drug use which boasts one of the world's most famous carnivals homicide rates have been well above those in Sao Paulo and even Rio de Janeiro In a statement the radio station said: "Lider FM talks every day about what is happening in the city Unfortunately we have now reached the point where the city's police chief himself has been assassinated."