The watchdog group Human Rights Watch is charging Cambodia’s government with abusing public health measures as a pretext to arrest employees of the NagaWorld casino resort who were striking to protest staff layoffs.
The government arrested six NagaWorld employees as they left a Covid testing site, and charged them with obstructing government pandemic measures. Three were released, but the three others could face up to five years in jail.
“The Cambodian authorities are stooping to new lows by bringing criminal charges in the guise of public health measures to end a strike,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch in a statement. “The government’s persecution of union activists appears aimed at blunting the growing unity and strength of Cambodia’s union movement and their support for the NagaWorld strikers.”
Workers went on strike to demand the reinstatement of 365 employees who were part of a mass layoff last year of 1,329 employees. The government has called the strike illegal, and has accused the leaders of “incitement.”
