SEVEN South Korean prostitutes bound and gagged during a failed hold-up at a Perth brothel have cut short a working holiday in WA and returned to Sydney.

The women, who spoke little English, were tied up in a hold-up bid by three men at an Inglewood brothel, in Perth's eastern suburbs on Sunday.

The prostitutes, who were on a working holiday in Perth, had now returned to Sydney to look for employment, police spokesman Ian Hasleby said.

Police were alerted to their plight by a taxi driver after one of the women broke free of her bonds and flagged him down as he passed by the brothel.

All seven women had valid working visas and had worked in Sydney before coming to WA.

It is understood there was no cash on the premises and the three would-be robbers left empty handed.

AAP