Cambodia’s Crackdown on Labor Rights: The Conviction of Casino Union Leader Chhim Sithar and Strikers

Cambodian authorities have convicted union leader Chhim Sithar and eight other union members for incitement to commit a felony or disturb social security. Sithar, who is the president of the Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld, has been sentenced to two years in prison, while the others have received sentences of up to one and a half years. These charges are a violation of Cambodia’s obligations under international human rights law, as Sithar and the Labor Rights Supported Union (LRSU) were advocating for workers’ rights.

Background

In April 2021, NagaWorld, a company that operates the sole legal casino in Phnom Penh, laid off 1,329 casino workers, including union leadership, leading to strike actions that still continue today. Sithar’s arrest and conviction are a direct result of her and the LRSU’s efforts to defend workers’ rights. Political charges are commonly levied against union members taking part in strikes as part of broad government efforts to suppress dissent.

International Response

Several international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), have called for Sithar and her fellow union members to be unconditionally released. The Australian union movement has condemned Sithar’s conviction and called on the Cambodian government to respect workers’ rights to freedom of association.

State Obligations to Protect Workers’ Rights

Under international human rights law and standards, workers should not be discriminated against or targeted for participating in trade union activities. The Cambodian government has an obligation under international human rights law not just to respect the rights of workers, but also to protect these rights from abuse by private actors. Cambodia ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, along with ILO Convention No. 87 and ILO Convention No. 98. These protections provide for the right to freedom of association, the right to organize, and the right to collectively bargain.

Conclusion

Cambodia’s attack on the LRSU and its leaders marks a serious violation of workers’ rights. The imprisonment of a union leader undermines workers’ rights to organize, bargain collectively, and take industrial action. It is crucial that the Cambodian authorities immediately release all detained union members and stop persecuting trade unionists, so that workers’ rights to freedom of association can be respected and upheld.

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