"Four Months On, 30 Cambodian Migrant Workers in Saudi Arabia Wait To Come Home", 24 July 2024

It has been four months, yet 30 Cambodian workers remain in Saudi Arabia, as they continue to push the Cambodian government to expedite the process of repatriation, according to one of the workers’ Facebook post ...

Em Bopha, 44, who claimed that she was a victim in Saudi Arabia, told …, there has been no clear solution from the ministry. She described their situation as being difficult as they are not allowed to go anywhere, “not even outside the room”…

Bopha said they went to Saudi Arabia for work through Cambodian firm Fatina Manpower Co Ltd. Twenty six of them are still in Jeddah city.

She said it has become difficult for her group when they fall sick due to malnutrition and the Internet being cut off, as they cannot communicate with their family in Cambodia.

“Because the Wi-Fi was disconnected, I am begging for money from my family in Cambodia to buy [data],” Bopha said, adding that she spent 125,000 riel to 135,000 riel to buy the internet to use ,“ she said.

While urging the embassy to expedite their repatriation, she said her family owed $3,000 to private banks and lived in a rented house…

Sim Chansamphos, who is Bopha’s husband, expressed dissatisfaction with MLVT’s delayed action in bringing his wife and other workers home.

The MLVT promised to send the workers back three to four months ago, but so far there has been no solution. He contacted the ministry several times to ask about the issue, but was told to wait for a solution. “The ministry does not pick up my calls anymore,” Chansamphos said…