Cambodia: NagaWorld unionists continue to demand justice after prolonged strike despite judicial & non-judicial attacks on their leaders
"“I Have Seen Injustice” – Two Years Gone, NagaWorld Strikers Soldier On To Regain What Was Taken From Them", 20 December 2023
For over two years now, NagaWorld strikers have been struggling to attain justice in their long-drawn labor dispute. But, their advocacy work in that time has only been met with injustice, including trumped-up criminal charges, arrests, violence, and harassment against women strikers…
…, about 30 workers gathered in front of the casino complex where they used to work, holding banners, hailers and microphones, while banging on drums and singing union songs to commemorate the second anniversary of their strike and to demand the government’s intervention to resolve the issue. They hope that the new government mandate would resolve the dispute, amid arrests and persecutions.
Pov Reaksmey, an intern at the casino, told … that she will never forget the “pain” of seeing the arrest of union leaders, violence and harassment against female strikers, and a few who suffered miscarriages. She said there was never any attention given on the issue by the relevant ministries, instead they were painted in a bad light, accusing them of starting a color revolution…
… Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training spokesperson Katta Orn told … that efforts have been made to mediate the NagaWorld strike as per their jurisdiction and role in the labor law, by using a dispute resolution mechanism. They mediated twice and have now referred the case to the Arbitration Council…
… In an email …, Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director Phil Robertson stressed that the main issue was that the NagaWorld management had “never engaged in sincere negotiations with the union”, and that the government has “done nothing to force them to do so”…