Cambodia’s National Assembly approved a draft law in recent weeks to allow laborers there to come work in Qatar following an agreement signed by the two countries last May, the Phnom Penh Post reports.

According to that legislation, Cambodia’s Ministry of Labor would offers skills training to its workers ahead of their deployment, the report said. But it adds that rights groups and manpower agencies have expressed concerns about mistreatment in Qatar.

The Association of Cambodian Recruitment Agencies apparently plans to open an office here to monitor its workers’ rights, and has reportedly said it would advocate against allowing Cambodians to work as domestic laborers.

What do you think? Is Cambodia’s move a vote of confidence that Qatar’s labor rights standards are improving, or is it a sign that the status quo continues?

Credit: Photo of a Cambodian worker by G4Glenno

(via the Gulf Times)