Cambodia has rescued 58 nationals, who were trafficked to work as illegal fishermen in Indonesia, Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Saturday.

"With the cooperation from the Indonesian authorities, the Cambodian Embassy in Indonesia has saved 58 Cambodian laborers, who had been trafficked to work illegally on fishing boats in Indonesian maritime territory," he said in a statement.

The spokesman said the embassy has closely cooperated with the International Organization for Migration in order to return those victims to Cambodia as soon as possible.

Trafficked fishermen are frequently forced to work for long hours and physically and psychologically abused. They are often unpaid and forced to serve on voyages for months or even years.