"CSOs' joint statement", 10 January 2020

We, as trade union federations and civil society organisations, are extremely disappointed with the provisional order of the Phnom Penh Court of First Instance issued … which decided to suspend strike action by NagaWorld employees … and which stated that employees which continued to strike would be determined as an illegal strike and as serious misconduct.

We observe that this provisional order violates workers’ fundamental rights to strike which is guaranteed by the Constitution, Labour Law, Trade Union Law of the Kingdom of Cambodia and International Labor Organisation Core Convention No. 87 which has been ratified by Cambodia.

According to the Labour Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld’s statement …, the union has used all peaceful methods for settling this dispute with the employer and has held meetings and a secret ballot with 97% out of more than 2000 workers who participated supporting a strike…, the union submitted notice to company management and relevant institutions were well informed specifying that a strike would occur …

We observe that the protection of public order is not an adequate excuse for a court to suspend a strike freely decided upon by members, ...

Therefore, we call on the public authorities to not block the peaceful strike of NagaWorld employees which is being held for the legitimate interests of those workers. We also call on NagaWorld to respect the rights of employees in exercising their fundamental rights to strike to demand their legitimate interests​ and the reinstatement of their union leader…