Sixty Vietnamese citizens rescued from a local gambling establishment in the Philippine province of Pampanga arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport early on May 30.
| Sixty Vietnamese forced workers arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport on May 30. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
This is the first group of Vietnamese forced laborers to return home from the Philippines after local authorities rescued some 1,000 forced workers from a gambling house in the said province earlier this month.
They are among the 437 Vietnamese who have been freed.
Relevant Vietnamese authorities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy in the Philippines, and the Consular Department, have been actively cooperating with Philippine authorities to take care of the victims.
They will continue to seek ways to bring the remaining Vietnamese forced laborers home soon.
According to Philippine police, the victims had been forced to work 18 hours a day and had their passports taken away. At least 12 suspects have been arrested and will face human trafficking charges.
