In recent months, thousands of foreign workers have poured into Phnom Penh. They are looking for protection from fraudulent online companies and other gray market operations. Urged on by a high-profile arrest, it seems the floodgates of public commentary have opened. Consequently, the government is reportedly cracking down on criminal mafias conducting operations in Cambodia. Yet tens of millions of people like Indonesians, Chinese, South Asians and Africans are caught in a precariat purgatory. Now, they are desperately trying to find a way out of the country.
The Cambodian government has dramatically increased crackdowns to address the emerging challenge of rampant online scams. To this end, there’s been an unexpected influx of foreign workers entering the country. After building international public pressure, these authorities have increasingly focused their efforts on breaking up these criminal networks. One high-profile arrest sparked the crackdown and most vividly brought this issue to national attention. Suddenly, tens of thousands of workers hit the roads, escaping the scam compounds they had been held captive in.
Among those who have escaped are people who have been able to shake these bad apples’ scam operations. Tens of thousands are still waiting in line outside their home embassies in Phnom Penh. They want to be able to complain about their awful conditions. Anti-trafficking government agencies have sounded an alarm over the difficulty that these workers are encountering. They highlight the urgency of delivering support during the turmoil.
The mood on the streets of Phnom Penh has grown more fraught as these foreign nationals scramble to figure out how to ride out their new, dangerous plight. Instead, reports have circulated that hundreds of them are still stuck, unable to find safe passage out of Cambodia. The administration has doubled down on eliminating criminal organizations. Unfortunately, this renewed effort has created more confusion on the part of the operators of these often liberating operations, sometimes making it more difficult for them to escape the bonds.
Though the battle is not over yet, international activists are still closely watching what the government does next. Advocacy groups are fighting back by raising their voices for these vulnerable foreign workers. They argue that stronger protections are necessary to fight the exploitation they endure. Countless others are still in limbo, waiting for the injustices they suffered to provide them the justice and relief that can’t come soon enough.