"Naga Union Leader Suspended Amid Campaign for Higher Salaries", 26 September 2019

A union leader at Phnom Penh casino NagaWorld said she has been suspended over a campaign for higher wages.

Chhim Sithar told ... that the union had printed T-shirts with a slogan that translates from Khmer to “The Company Is Growing; Workers Need Living Wages,” and distributed them to 3,000 employees.

She was suspended after intervening when security guards tried to confiscate a T-shirt from an employee ..., Sithar said ...

Sithar and 27 other employees were suspended, but the 27 others were reinstated after protesting, she said.

“Suspending from work a union leader who represents thousands of workers is a serious discrimination against unions by the NagaWorld company,” Sithar said.

... Amid the dispute, 3,826 employees have decided to take three days off over the Pchum Ben holidays despite being warned by the company that absentees would be fired, she added. NagaWorld has more than 4,000 union members and 8,600 employees in total, Sithar said.

Dy Seyha, NagaWorld’s communications manager, declined to comment, saying she was too busy.

Ry Sovandy, a dealer at NagaWorld, said employees were asking for a raise in monthly wages to $300 for those who work in the hotel and $500 for those on the casino floor. The workers are currently paid $191 to $200 and $230 to $300, respectively, according to the union...

Labor Ministry spokesman Heng Sour could not be reached for comment...