Thousands on strike over pay at Cambodian casino NagaWorld

NagaCorp

09/01/2020 07:25

PHNOM PENH, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Thousands of Cambodians
working for a Hong Kong-listed casino company have gone on
strike for higher pay and better working conditions, they said
on Thursday.
    About 3,000 workers joined the strike in front of the
NagaWorld hotel and casino complex, owned by Nagacorp Ltd
 3918.HK , in Phnom Penh to demand higher pay of $300 a month
for hotel staff and $500 a month for those on the gambling
floor.
    NagaWorld did not respond to requests for comment.
    The striking workers said wages now start at $150 to $250 a
month.
    They are also seeking the reinstatement of their union
president, Chhim Sithar, who was suspended in September.
    One of the strikers, By Kunthea, who has been working at the
casino for 19 years, said the company had warned employees in a
memo they would be fired if they went on strike.
    "We demand a raise for workers  ... we need to pay rent and
food prices nowadays have also gone up," By Kunthea said.
    "The company makes a lot of profits."
    Card dealer Chan Maiya Mouy complained of poor working
conditions including abusive behaviour.
    "We can't go to the toilet if there is no one to fill in for
us," Chan Maiya Mouy said. "When gamblers lose, they curse us
and throw water bottles at us."
    NagaCorp, which has the exclusive license to operate in
Phnom Penh, reported an estimated $1.8 billion in revenue last
year, up from $1.5 billion in 2018.
    It posted a 9-month net gaming revenue of $616.3 million
last year. 
    Khiev Savuth, deputy director of Labour Ministry's labour
dispute department, could not be reached for comment.

 (Reporting by Prak Chan Thul
Editing by Robert Birsel)
 ((prak.chanthul@thomsonreuters.com; +855 12 666 297; Reuters
Messaging: prak.chanthul.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))