Source: Gazette Khmer
Employees and striking workers at NagaWorld have called on the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia to include their nearly five-year labour dispute in his official report, saying they have yet to receive justice.
Sok Sreymeas, a NagaWorld employee and one of the striking workers, told Gazette Khmer that she has urged Cambodia’s Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training to resolve the dispute to demonstrate that the country respects trade union rights, as publicly stated.
She also called on the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia to include the NagaWorld case in his report, arguing that labour rights are an integral part of human rights.
“If our voices are included in the report, I hope it will help bring about a resolution soon,” she said.
Sok Sreymeas said the strike, which has continued for more than 1,600 days, has caused severe economic hardship and affected the livelihoods of many workers.
She alleged that many employees were dismissed because of their involvement in trade union activities, rather than because of the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, as the company has maintained.
Yi Soksan, a senior investigator at the rights group ADHOC, told reporters that more than 40 workers gathered outside the NagaWorld 2 building to mark what he said was the 1,685th day of the labour dispute.
He said that although many workers had accepted previous settlement offers, nearly 100 workers still had not accepted the proposed resolution and continued to demand that independent union leaders and activists be reinstated.
“We want the Royal Government to tell employees or workers or unions that they have the right to ask the government to look at the company, especially NagaWorld. How can this union be an independent union not subordinate to the boss?” “If a union in a company is subordinate to the boss, injustice will happen to employees who suffer injustice,” he said.
Yi Soksan called on the government to guarantee freedom of association and review the protection of labour rights within the company, saying trade unions should operate independently and not be subject to employer influence.
He added that respect for labour rights and a fair resolution of the dispute are important for maintaining the confidence of workers and international business partners.
The labour dispute at NagaWorld began in late 2021 after the company announced the dismissal of hundreds of employees during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the casino industry was facing significant economic challenges.
The union and dismissed workers have argued that the layoffs disproportionately targeted union leaders and activists. NagaWorld has said the restructuring was carried out in line with business requirements and Cambodia’s labour law.
Since then, strikes and protests have continued, with authorities taking action against some demonstrators, including arrests and criminal charges against union activists.