Tougher laws for recruiters
A new set of prakases tacked onto a law that regulates overseas employment recruitment agencies is a “step in the right direction” towards protecting some of Cambodia’s most vulnerable citizens from scams and abuse, local and international NGOs said yesterday.
But some remain unconvinced that the laws will lead to stricter enforcement against recruitment agencies and overseas employers who have continued engaging in human trafficking, forced labour and a host of other human rights violations since the Ministry of Labour passed the original regulatory decree two years ago.
The prakases, dated September 23 and obtained yesterday, allow the ministry to inspect agencies, require that disputes be addressed within 10 days of complaints, and lay out more specific requirements for agencies.
In a statement released on Monday, the International Labour Organization commended the government’s new measures, lauding the legislation for its potential to “strengthen the existing protection mechanisms for migrant workers and set standards for private recruitment agencies, the recruitment process, and pre-departure orientation training”. …
Recruitment firms routinely victimise Cambodian workers seeking employment opportunities or higher salaries abroad, alternately stealing their money and freedom. …
Workers who are placed in a job abroad through a recruiter sometimes arrive to find hefty bills they owe the agency for questionable fees, said Moen Tola, head of the labour program at the Community Legal Education Center. Others find they have no recourse when placed with employers who withhold pay. …
Sean Teehan
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/tougher-laws-recruiters
