In the space of only about two months, the Cambodian embassy in Malaysia had helped eight Cambodian maids whose employers abused them, the government said yesterday.

“The maids have been mistreated by their employers and some have finished their contracts and want to come back home,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Koy Kuong said in a statement.

Among those waiting for a flight home was Ggol Pich, who has reached the end of her two-year contract. She would arrive home tomorrow, Kuong said, adding that others had already been repatriated.

In October, Cambodia put a ban on sending maids to Malaysia after a spate of incidents involving abuse.

To contact the reporter on this story: Sen David at [email protected]