Chhim Sithar (2021)

Chhim Sithar (born 1987-88) is a Cambodian trade union leader, currently President [1] of the Labor Rights Supported Union (LSRU) of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld.[2]

Biography

Sithar was born in Prey Veng province, the second of six children. She earned a bachelor's degree in economic informatics.[3] She began working at NagaWorld in 2007 before becoming active within the LSRU in 2009.[4][5]

In September 2019, she was suspended by NagaWorld after questioning the company's decision to ban a t-shirt calling for higher wages for employees.[6] In December 2019, the members of the LSRU voted to strike in response to the suspension. Despite a court ruling that the strike was illegal, the LSRU proceeded with it in early-January 2020. After two days of strike action, the company agreed to raise wages and re-institute Sithar.[7][8]

In mid-2021, NagaWorld announced that it would be firing over 600 workers from the casino, including Sithar. Sithar subsequently alleged that the company had targeted union members with the firings, stating that the union was close to reaching its goal of 4000 members, or half of the casino's employees, at which point the union would be allowed to engage in collective bargaining under Cambodian law.[9]

On 3 January 2022, she led the LSRU in a strike calling for the reinstatement of the fired employees. The next day, she was violently arrested by plainclothes policemen and was charged with "incitement to commit a felony." She was subsequently held in pretrial detention for 74 days, being released on bail in March.[10]

In April 2022, she was re-elected as head of the LSRU. In June 2022, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training announced that it would not recognise the union's registration, claiming that Sithar was no longer an employee of NagaWorld and could therefore no longer hold an elected position in the union.[11]

In late-November 2022, she attended the World Congress of the International Trade Union Confederation. Upon her return to Cambodia, she was arrested on charges of violating bail conditions.[12] Amnesty International condemned the arrest, stating that neither she nor her lawyer were informed of the bail conditions and that she was "being detained solely for her work defending workers’ rights."[13] The United States Department of State also called for her release.[14] On 14 March 2023, a trial hearing was held by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on her case, and Human Rights Watch released a statement calling the charges against her "baseless" and saying that "the Cambodian government has an obligation under international human rights law not only to respect the rights of workers but also to protect these rights from abuse by private actors."[15] A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice responded to Human Rights Watch by saying that "the accused have already crossed the line of existing labour dispute resolution mechanisms" and that "this case follows standard legal proceedings. Just as in any court case, solid evidence and strong testimony must be presented to discharge the accused."[16]

In the trial of Chhim Sithar the judge refused to admit recordings the defence wanted to introduce as evidence.[17]

Awards and recognition

On 2 February 2023, Sithar was awarded the Global Human Rights Defender Award by the United States Department of State, the first person from Cambodia to receive the award.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "Free the NagaWorld Leaders!". 3cr.org.au. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
  2. ↑ Harper, Andrew (1 May 2020). "In Phnom Penh, NagaWorld lockdown means casino workers are suffering". Southeast Asia Globe. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  3. ↑ "Spotlight on 10 Imprisoned Unionists in Cambodia". Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  4. ↑ Thul, Prak Chan (6 January 2022). "Arrested union leader the latest to take up the fight for labour in Cambodia". Reuters. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  5. ↑ Worrell, Shane (19 June 2013). "NagaWorld strike ends with force". The Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  6. ↑ Keeton-Olsen, Danielle (16 December 2019). "The workers organising for a better future in Cambodia". Equal Times. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  7. ↑ Palatino, Mong (12 January 2020). "Victory for labor rights in Cambodia as largest casino workers' strike ends in peace". Global Voices. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  8. ↑ "Striking Cambodian casino workers return to work in NagaWorld deal". Reuters. 11 January 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  9. ↑ Keeton-Olsen, Danielle (2 June 2021). "Cambodian workers at NagaWorld casino vexed over lay-offs as Hong Kong-listed parent firm reports profits". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  10. ↑ Handley, Erin (7 December 2022). "Cambodian community calls for casino union leader Chhim Sithar's release from prison after visit to Australia". ABC News. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  11. ↑ "Only "Instant Noodle" Unions Survive". Human Rights Watch. 21 November 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  12. ↑ https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministry-stands-sithar-arrest
  13. ↑ "Cambodia: Immediately release and drop charges against Union Leader Chhim Sithar". Amnesty International. 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  14. ↑ "US calls for the release of Cambodian labor activist". CNN. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  15. ↑ "Cambodia: Labor Leader, Activists Face Baseless Charges". Human Rights Watch. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  16. ↑ Chandara, Samban (16 March 2023). "Justice ministry rebuffs calls to free unionists". The Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  17. ↑ "NagaWorld Union Leaders' Trial Nearing End, Court Schedules Closing Arguments". 29 April 2023.
  18. ↑ "Chhim Sithar Awarded Human Rights Defender Award". U.S. Embassy in Cambodia. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
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