The southern province of An Giang received 44 Vietnamese nationals rescued from Cambodia. The handover took place at Tịnh Biên International Border Gate on September 20, 2022. — VNA/VNS Photo Công Mạo

HÀ NỘI — Around 1,000 Vietnamese citizens who have been tricked into forced labour in Cambodia have been rescued so far, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Addressing the regular press briefing on Thursday held in Hà Nội, spokesperson for the ministry Lê Thị Thu Hằng said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese agencies in Cambodia are paying close attention to citizen protection measures, as a great number of Vietnamese nationals have been scammed and illegally brought to Cambodia via brokers.

Recently under the direction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnamese agencies have taken the initiative in working with Cambodian authorities to encourage the review and expand investigations and identification, as well as rescue Vietnamese nationals who have been scammed into illegal labour by brokers, Hằng noted.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and representative agencies are working with local authorities such as the Command of the Border Guards, the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Public Security, as well as Vietnamese localities bordering Cambodia – such as Kiên Giang, An Giang, Tây Ninh, and Long An (in the southern region) – to create good conditions for the identification and repatriation of Vietnamese nationals.

As of September 21, 2022, more than 1000 Vietnamese nationals have been rescued and thousands of others have received legal support, according to the spokesperson.

Hằng noted that Cambodian authorities have also been very active in the cooperation and support of Vietnamese representative agencies in rescuing Vietnamese nationals.

“Most notably since the beginning of September, when Cambodia launched its campaign against criminal organisations that have been illegally receiving and coercing labourers, the total number of Vietnamese nationals that were rescued has reached 400 people,” Hằng said.

"In the future, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese representative agencies in Cambodia will continue to work with Vietnamese authorities, localities, and Cambodia, to implement consular and civilian protection measures in Cambodia, handle emerging issues in a timely manner, repatriate Vietnamese nationals and most importantly, ensure their lawful and legitimate rights." — VNS