Chhim Sithar, the president of the Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld, had her two-year prison sentence upheld by Cambodia’s Supreme Court. She was convicted in May of incitement to commit a felony after leading a strike against NagaWorld casino in the capital, Phnom Penh, over mass layoffs and alleged union-busting. The strike began in December, and Chhim Sithar was arrested after a January 2022 demonstration by dismissed employees demanding to be rehired. NagaWorld had fired 373 employees in late 2021 due to financial struggles related to the pandemic. Some workers are still protesting for Chhim Sithar’s release and job reinstatement, while others have accepted compensation and dropped their demands.
Supporters of Chhim Sithar gathered outside the Supreme Court on Friday, calling for her release on appeal. The court also upheld the convictions and sentences of eight of her fellow union members, with five receiving 1 1/2 year sentences and three receiving suspended sentences of one year each. Chhim Sithar may be released later this year when her prison term ends, considering the time already served before her conviction. NagaWorld, owned by a company controlled by Malaysian billionaire Chen Lip Keong’s family, is a large integrated hotel-casino entertainment complex that received its casino license in 1994. The protest by NagaWorld workers in the capital was a high-profile event that drew sometimes violent police action, unlike previous labor union actions in Cambodia that were more common in outlying areas or industrial estates.
In February last year, Chhim Sithar was recognized by the U.S. Department of State as one of 10 recipients worldwide of its annual Human Rights Defender Award. U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia W. Patrick Murphy praised her as a courageous and tenacious labor union leader advocating peacefully for Cambodian workers’ rights. Labor union actions in Cambodia have historically taken place in factories or industrial estates, making the NagaWorld protest in the capital particularly noteworthy. Despite the challenges faced by Chhim Sithar and her fellow union members, their dedication to fighting for fair labor practices and worker rights has earned them international recognition and support. The ongoing efforts of those involved in the NagaWorld strike highlight the importance of workers’ rights and the impact of corporate decisions on the livelihoods of employees.
