Lamenting the steady stream of Cambodian men who are repatriated after falling victim to fishing boat slavery, Prime Minister Hun Sen said yesterday a lack of communication, not employment, was driving citizens to risky jobs abroad.

At a graduation ceremony, the premier told students the demand for agricultural workers in Cambodia was high but said advertising these positions remained a problem.

“In Ratanakkiri [province] the labour force wage is high – up to US$5 per day,” he said.

“Cambodia is now in the situation where it lacks labour, while a number of Cambodian people migrate for work outside the country, even if it is illegal.”