The head of Cambodia’s Labour Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees at NagaWorld – a group that has led ongoing protests outside the Phnom Penh integrated resort following a series of layoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic – has been arrested for leaving the country without permission.
According to a report by The Phnom Penh Post, Chhim Sithar was arrested at Phnom Penh International Airport and placed in pre-trial detention on Saturday after returning from a 12-day trip to Australia.
Previously arrested in January for organizing strikes that the government called illegal and a threat to public security, she had been released on bail in March and placed under certain conditions, including travel restrictions.
However, Am Sam Ath, deputy director of rights group LICADHO, said her latest arrest “constitutes a further threat and intimidation of the union at NagaWorld, especially threatening NagaWorld employees and former employees who are going on strike to demand a solution to labour disputes between the [casino] and the strikers.”
The protestors have been demanding the reinstatement of 373 workers laid-off last year. NagaWorld had described the layoffs as part of “proactive measures to manage the [COVID-19] situation” with the company looking to save up to US$2 million per month in run-rate operating costs.
Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior said this week that a total of 249 of the 373 employees have now accepted seniority payments to put an end to their employment contracts with the company.
“Another 124 employees have still refused to accept the seniority payments,” it said.
