A Chinese restaurant, hotel and casino complex is seen in Preah Sihanouk province in 2018. Heng Chivoan
The Preah Sihanouk Provincial Administration has issued a new directive on the management of casinos, hotels, restaurants, condominiums and businesses, as the ongoing nationwide crackdown on illegal gambling has seen nearly 10,000 locations inspected and over 250 people sent to court.
The directive stated that authorities had observed that some businesses had received business licences from the government and did not then subsequently inform the proper authorities about where their business operations were taking place or provide the business name and the nature of the business being conducted.
"Some locations have been fenced off, making it difficult for the authorities to inspect these places and creating opportunities for some people to potentially commit offenses such as forcibly detaining people for exploitation of their labour, human trafficking, sexual exploitation or acting in violation of any other of the Kingdom’s laws,” it said in the October 7 directive.
The provincial administration's announcement goes on to say that in order to maintain security and public order and improve management of those businesses in accordance with Cambodia's laws and regulations, they are informing all casino owners to apply for a permit to operate their businesses from the provincial administration prior to their applying for licences from the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Business owners must display their business name as registered and licensed with large Khmer-language lettering as well as a smaller name in their own language or English and it must be in accordance with the content of the license and they must display all licenses at their reception area.
The administration also reminded all business owners in the province that they are not allowed to take their employee’s passports, work permits or identification documents and hold onto them for an extended period of time for any reason.
The provincial administration emphasized that in the event that the authorities found out that identity or travel documents were being kept from the employees who rightfully owned them, then the business owner or individual will be fully responsible under the laws in force and may face prosecution.
The administration further advised that all business locations should be accessible and without fencing, nets or barbed wire that would block the workers' freedom of movement and prevent them from going in and out and the owner must prepare a workers’ list and payroll correctly along with employment contracts.
"In cases where the business owner does not comply with these orders, the provincial administration will request in principle that the relevant government ministry or institution completely and permanently close down that business,” the directive said.
Preah Sihanouk Provincial Governor Kuoch Chamroeun held a meeting on October 8 with relevant authorities to disseminate the outcomes of the work review meeting for the fight against all forms of human, labour and sexual trafficking and gambling.
Chamroeun urged authorities to continue searching for sites based on any outstanding or recently lodged complaints of suspected human trafficking, torture and sexual trafficking whether at a licensed business or unlicensed location.
"Authorities need to monitor and follow up on these complaints systematically in order to ensure that there is no new illegal online gambling taking place,” he said.
At the same time, he advised his officials to strengthen border enforcement to prevent cross-border crime and especially focus on cooperation in security management at sea to prevent the smuggling of foreign workers into Cambodia via marine routes or the possibility of anyone committing trafficking offences out on the open sea as has been reported in the past.
A press release issued by the National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT) on October 7 stated that the crackdown operations against illegal gambling that began on September 17 had so far led to the inspection of 9,622 locations, of which 116 places were sanctioned as illegal gambling sites and 253 individuals were sent to the court.
Authorities examined the work status of foreigners at 10 locations in Preah Sihanouk province and found 2,760 foreigners of 14 nationalities, of which 1,512 were without work permits and were fined prior to being allowed to leave the premises of the business.
The press release stated that the working group has deported 685 people of 10 nationalities and another 920 people are currently awaiting deportation.
