Cambodian labor officials say the longstanding dispute between NagaWorld and its dismissed employees remains unresolved.
Protests began outside the Phnom Penh resort way back in mid-December 2021, as striking workers demanded the reinstatement of laid-off employees and the release of jailed union leaders.
At the time, government officials attributed the layoffs to the Covid-19 pandemic and “proactive measures to manage” the viral pandemic. About 1,620 of 8,370 staffers were laid off or resigned.
Last year, union leader Ry Sovandy told Radio Free Asia that the group planned to continue advocating for the rights of coworkers. “Our stance is that the union has to be reinstated and the workers who want to work should be allowed to return,” she said. “Our position is purely based on the willingness of the workers. We will not accept any condition that leads to a dissolution of the union or only allows one party, the NagaWorld company, to win in this dispute.”
As reported by Asia Gaming Brief, civil rights groups in the country now want labor ministry officials to step aside and allow the International Labor Organization to serve as mediator in the dispute. NagaWorld continues to resist the call to rehire dismissed workers.
The two sides will meet on March 22 in hopes of reaching a solution, AGB reported.
