On Friday, the Supreme Court of Cambodia confirmed the two-year imprisonment of Chhim Sithar, a labor union leader who had organized an extensive strike at the country’s largest casino, NagaWorld. Chhim Sithar, head of the Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld, was convicted in May 2023 for incitement to commit a felony, related to her leadership in protests starting from December 2021 against mass layoffs and alleged anti-union actions at NagaWorld.
The layoffs at NagaWorld, which involved 373 employees, occurred towards the end of 2021 during economic difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite some workers accepting compensation and ceasing their protests as announced by the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training in December 2022, others have continued to demonstrate regularly, demanding Chhim Sithar’s release and the reinstatement of their jobs.
On the day of the ruling, supporters rallied outside the Supreme Court with banners appealing for her release. In addition to upholding Chhim Sithar’s sentence, the court also affirmed the convictions and sentences of eight other union members involved, with five receiving 1 1/2 years each, and three others receiving suspended one-year sentences.
Chhim Sithar is expected to be released later this year, accounting for the time served prior to her conviction. The casino at the center of the controversy, NagaWorld, is part of a significant entertainment complex owned by a corporation linked to Malaysian billionaire Chen Lip Keong, who has been instrumental in its operations since it received its casino license in 1994.
Historically, labor protests in Cambodia have typically occurred in more remote factory settings or industrial areas, making the NagaWorld strike particularly notable due to its location in the capital, Phnom Penh, and the intense police responses it drew. In recognition of her efforts, the U.S. Department of State awarded Chhim Sithar the Human Rights Defender Award in February of the previous year, acknowledging her as a determined advocate for Cambodian workers’ rights.
