Four hours before midnight on New Year’s Eve, police raided the office of the Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of Naga World (LRSU), arresting nine trade union leaders and members. They remain in custody on unspecified charges.
The arrests occurred as NagaWorld management lobbied government authorities and colluded with the key officials in the Ministry of Labour to force an end to the peaceful strike action that started on December 18, 2021.
Despite the fact that the peaceful strike is a direct result of a series of management failures, NagaWorld refused to find a constructive solution and restore industrial relations. The company – a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based NagaCorp – has instead chosen to take repressive measures against workers and escalate the crisis.
Striking workers at NagaWorld band together to protect union leaders from further arrests