Cambodia government-mediated talks between management and staff regarding job lay-offs at casino resort NagaWorld, in the capital city Phnom Penh, have ended inconclusively, according to a union representative.

“None of the demands from workers were accepted or settled in the Wednesday meeting at the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, but the ministry… requested both parties meet again next week on June 30 at 9am,” said the union representative Sithar Chhim on last Friday.

Ms Chhim’s union – “Labour Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld” – is asking NagaWorld’s management to reverse its lay-off decision, and to rehire some workers already let go.

The casino resort promoter, NagaCorp Ltd, confirmed in a June 7 filing some lay-offs at the complex, as well as pay cuts, the latter effective since March.

The firm said at the time that these were “proactive measures” to manage the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, as the casino resort has been shuttered since early March.

Subsequently a general increase in Covid-19 cases in Phnom Penh brought about forms of lockdown.

Editing by Rachel Hu