The Phnom Penh municipal administration has requested that the former NagaWorld employees still involved in a dispute with the company suspend their protests in public places in Phnom Penh during Water Festival which falls on November 7-9 and the coming ASEAN Summit and related meetings from November 8-13.
The former NagaWorld employees have been protesting since December of last year to pressure the company into resolving a labour dispute between them caused by layoffs that the protesters claim targeted union activists, while NagaWorld countered that they were only due to the pandemic-related business slowdown.
Solutions have been found through mediation by the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training for some of the ex-employees in the form of enhanced severance packages, while others have continued to reject the resort-casino’s offers and insist on being reinstated to their positions.
A notice dated November 5 issued by Deputy Governor Mean Chanyada states that protesters who have been gathering at NagaWorld I and II and other places must pause their activities due to the holiday and the summit. It indicated that their gatherings affected public order.
“If protesters continue to gather in public during this period it will affect the security, safety and public order of Phnom Penh during the ASEAN Summit and related meetings and they must be held responsible for that according to the law,” the notice said.
