"Unconditionally, reinstates the union president, Ms. Chhim Sithar", 6 October 2019

We, the undersigned, representing trade union federations, associations and civil society organisations working for the promotion of human rights and labour rights in the Kingdom of Cambodia are currently carefully monitoring the case of the Khmer Employees’ Labour Rights Support Union of NagaWorld. We condemn the decision of management to suspend the employment of union president, Ms. Chhim Sithar, without just cause after she exercised her fundamental rights and professional independence as a representative of approximately four thousand workers to demand better working conditions and reasonable wage increases for staff working at NagaWorld. Ms. Chhim Sithar is a union activist and local union leader…

Based on previous experience, NagaWorld has a history of union discrimination in which complaints were filed with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for violations of core conventions, and the ILO later issued recommendations to the Royal Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Termination of the union leader’s contract at that time caused hundreds of workers to protest and demand the reinstatement of their leader, but the company refused to do so…

We will continue to carefully monitor this case and continue to support employees in the continuation of non-violent activities and the exercise of their fundamental rights guaranteed by the law of the Kingdom of Cambodia in order to ensure that NagaWorld reinstates the union president, Ms. Chhim Sithar; negotiates in good faith; guarantees the cessation of all acts of union discrimination; and promotes better professional relations between employees and the company to avoid any further protests.