Around 700 local employees of NagaWorld joined strike action and demonstrated outside the Phnom Penh integrated resort on Thursday demanding higher pay and better working conditions.
According to a report by Reuters, the workers are demanding an increase in the wages of hotel staff to US$300 a month and gaming floor workers to US$500 a month, claiming that current wages start at between US$150 and US$250 a month. They are also calling for the reinstatement of former NagaWorld employee and labor union leader Chhim Sithar who was suspended in October for allegedly organizing a campaign for higher wages.
“We demand a raise for workers … we need to pay rent and food prices nowadays have also gone up,” Reuters quoted one employee, By Kunthea, as stating.
“The company makes a lot of profits.”
NagaWorld operator NagaCorp began construction of a US$3.5 billion Naga3 expansion in late 2019, which will add an additional 4,720 hotel rooms across five towers as well as new gaming space, retail, restaurants, a theme park, spa and conference center.
NagaCorp’s most recent financial results saw a 20% year-on-year increase in GGR to US$1.29 billion and 29% rise in net gaming revenue for the first nine months of 2019 to US$616.2 million.
