Prominent union leader, Chhim Sithar, who led a high-profile strike at a Phnom Penh hotel and casino called Naga World, was released from prison on Monday 19 September. She has promised to continue leading workers who are demanding better wages and working conditions. 

The dispute at the NagaWorld Hotel and Entertainment Complex, one of the world’s most profitable gambling centers, began in 2021 when the company laid off more than 1,300 employees, about half of them union members.

The strike has drawn a violent crackdown from police and continues to this day. Cambodian authorities have claimed that the strike is illegal and the product of alleged foreign donations. But of course, the workers disagree.

My guest today is Chhim Sithar, the President of the Khmer Employees of NagaWorld.