Two Cambodian maids were repatriated from Malaysia on Saturday after being duped by a broker into taking unlawful and unpaid jobs, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ministry spokesman Chum Sonry said the two women – Soa Srey Loat from Tbong Khum province and Hor Pov from Prey Veng province – moved to Malaysia earlier this year, having been promised jobs as domestic workers.

But after receiving no wages, Srey Loat and Pov escaped their employers and sought the help of the Cambodian Embassy.

The embassy “gave them a place to stay, and food for them to eat . . . now they have been repatriated,” he said.

But, Sonry added, many other women in similar situations are still waiting to return home.

In 2011, Cambodia placed a moratorium on sending maids to Malaysia amid widespread reports of abuse. However, many Cambodian maids remain in the country, while others continue to move there illegally via brokers.

Lim Mony, deputy head of women’s and children’s rights at local NGO Adhoc, said she went to Malaysia last week to look into the issue.

“According to complaints from victims . . . there are still a lot of Cambodian maids in need of saving and some of them who we can’t find information on.

We urge the government to quickly respond to the complaints and send them back.”