There has been no mercy from Cambodia’s Supreme Court for labor union leader, Chhim Sithar, who spearheaded one of the most prolonged strikes against the nation’s leading casino. Sithar claimed that NagaWorld unfairly dismissed employees and sought to suppress the union’s attempts to take action.
Unyielding Union Labor Leader Sees No Compassion
The Supreme Court discerned Sithar, president of the Labor Right Supports Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld, as having defied the law, affirming his two-year imprisonment initially handed down in May 2023. Sithar, charged with instigation to commit a felony, now faces the affirmed sentence which compels him to complete his prison term.
Sithar was instrumental in inciting the protests in December 2021 against large-scale layoffs at the NagaWorld Casino in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. His persistent refusal to retreat and command union employees to disperse resulted in his arrest in January 2022. Despite these upheavals, NagaCorp has since regained its footing, showing robust growth.
With 373 employees let go amidst the financial distress caused by the pandemic and tourism scarcity, NagaWorld came to a standstill, drastically cutting operational results. However, many of the dismissed workers, undaunted by Sithar’s detention, continue to protest his incarceration, judgment and the handling of the case by NagaWorld and Cambodia’s legal apparatus.
In spite of Sithar’s predicament, some workers have consented to settlement agreements with the company, with around 200 laid-off employees already receiving settlements. Yet others have not been as fortunate. Although Sithar was branded a “ringleader”, eight fellow union workers also received 18-month imprisonments.
Unlawful Imprisonment and Human Rights Advocate
It is improbable that Sithar will be released prematurely. His sentence term will conclude later this year. Sithar’s dedication to labor rights has earned him the US Department of State Human Rights Defender Award, a notable acknowledgment at a time when the US has cautioned potential investors about potential business risks in Cambodia, citing corruption as a deep-rooted issue within the state.
Cambodia has categorically refuted these allegations. Nevertheless, Sithar’s fate raises concerns about the shockingly common practices disregarding citizens’ rights in favor of more influential enterprises. NagaWorld, owned by the influential Malaysian billionaire Chen Lip Keong and his family, opened its doors in 1994.
