Cambodia’s Supreme Court has upheld the two-year prison sentence of a labor union leader who led a prolonged strike against the country’s largest casino. Chhim Sithar, president of the Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld, was initially convicted in May 2023 of incitement to commit a felony.
The strike, which began in December 2021, was in response to mass layoffs and alleged union-busting at the NagaWorld casino in Phnom Penh. Sithar was arrested and charged following a January 2022 demonstration by dismissed employees demanding reinstatement.
NagaWorld had terminated 373 employees in late 2021 due to financial difficulties linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. While some workers accepted compensation and dropped their demands, others continue to protest, advocating for Sithar's release and job reinstatement.
Supporters gathered outside the Supreme Court with banners calling for Sithar's release on appeal. The court also upheld the convictions and sentences of eight other union members, with five receiving 1 1/2-year sentences and three receiving suspended one-year sentences.
Sithar may be released later this year upon completing her prison term. NagaWorld, owned by a company controlled by Malaysian billionaire Chen Lip Keong's family, operates a prominent integrated hotel-casino complex.
Labor union actions in Cambodia have typically occurred in industrial settings outside the capital. The NagaWorld protest attracted significant attention and at times faced police intervention.
In a notable recognition, Sithar was honored by the U.S. Department of State last year with the Human Rights Defender Award for her advocacy on behalf of Cambodian workers.
