Four Vietnamese file complaints in Cambodia regarding labor detention, trafficking

Khieu Sopheak, Cambodia's Secretary of State, said that 12 complaints from 16 foreigners have been filed via Cambodian police's hotline number 117, including four Vietnamese. The foreigners were located in Oddar Meanchey, Preah Sihanouk, Koh Kong, Kandal and Phnom Penh, though Sopheak did not specify exactly where the four Vietnamese were located, Khmer Times reported.

A total 137 complaints from 274 foreigners were received by Cambodian authorities from Aug. 18 to Sept. 7, all requesting intervention to be rescued from alleged detainment and human trafficking, he added.

Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng has issued a letter calling on both the public and authorities to continue providing information on human trafficking and transnational crimes to help combat efforts.

In a regular press meet on Thursday, deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Doan Khac Viet said Cambodia had recently repatriated 12 Vietnamese workers who’d been tricked into working in the country.

Thousands of Vietnamese might have been trafficked to Cambodia to be exploited, forced to work in harsh conditions for meager compensation, Vietnamese authorities said earlier, adding that rescuing them would be a difficult task.