Over the past few weeks, dozens of these foreign workers have fled or been rescued from online scam operations in Cambodia. Now they are reaching out for shelter and support in Phnom Penh. Tens of thousands of Indonesian subjects fled and protested in front of their embassy on January 21. They submitted complaints to OSHA about their terrible conditions. This new wave of people has raised alarm bells about the exploitation of workers within scam call centers. These scams often pose as real companies.
The climate changed dramatically after a high-profile bust connected to these gangs, leading to greater scrutiny from Cambodian officials. Yet the government is increasing its efforts to shut down these operations. In return, thousands of workers of nationalities including Chinese, South Asians and Africans are scrambling to exit Cambodia. As highlighted above, this crackdown is largely a response to growing international pressure to combat human trafficking and forced-labor exploitation in the country.
That waiting photograph today—that recent work by Roun Ry, who shot this photo out front of his embassy trying to get out— everybody was just waiting to be helped. Unfortunately, many of these folks have been caught up in gray market operations that take advantage of peoples’ desperation and vulnerability. Yet anti-trafficking agencies are raising the alarm. They document how those living in Cambodia often end up in perilous circumstances with little means of getting out, or help coming from abroad.
Cambodian online scam compounds have recently gained national attention for their squalid living environments and abusive recruitment tactics. Real foreign workers come here ready to work for an honest dollar. Instead, they end up enslaved in conditions that require them to work excessive hours, pay them very little money, and deny them their freedom. The plight of these workers highlights the urgent need for comprehensive reforms and support systems to protect vulnerable populations against exploitation.
The Cambodian government is facing greater international pressure to address the rapidly deteriorating crisis. They need to do more than deliver immediate relief, but take decisive action to end the global criminal networks once and for all. As a result, the international community is putting more pressure than ever before on the abuse of foreign workers, calling for their safety and protection.