"Eight union leaders released on bail to settle labor conflict", 15 March 2022

Eight NagaWorld union leaders were released from prison … after requesting the Labor Ministry intervene to secure their bail.

The unionists have been kept for months in pretrial detention and recently had their bail requests denied in court. Afterwards, they had each reportedly written to the Labor Ministry to request its intervention, adding that they could then help negotiate the end of the casino company’s ongoing labor dispute.

A letter from union president Chhim Sithar dated … stated the group would “promise not to gather to protest or lead protesting” as they had before being arrested.

Sithar’s letter, …, also urged all staff both former and current to cease their protesting, while requesting company management not take retribution on strikers.

… Three other NagaWorld workers who were also imprisoned during the protests on Tuesday sent letters of their own to the Labor Ministry asking for its intervention in the bail process.

… Luch Rumdoul, a NagaWorld dealer who has been striking for months, said she was happy to see the union leaders released on bail…

Moeun Tola, executive director at the rights group CENTRAL, welcomed the apparent step toward resolving the dispute.

“Both parties find a way of resolving the issue so that we can keep a good image together,” he said.

Civil society observers believe the sudden approval of bail was arranged after interior Minister Sar Kheng met … with relevant police and government officials in an attempt to resolve the ongoing NagaWorld labor dispute…