A supervisor of Chinese origin employed at a Cambodian gambling establishment is facing accusations connected to involuntary servitude. This comes after a distressing account of 42 Vietnamese nationals fleeing the establishment after enduring circumstances likened to contemporary enslavement.
The supervisor, whose name remains confidential, was detained at the “Golden Phoenix Entertainment Casino” situated on Koh Rong island in the Sihanoukville region. This measure was taken after the group of escaped laborers courageously crossed the Bình Di River, the natural boundary between Vietnam and Cambodia, to return to Vietnam and provide evidence against their treatment.
Sadly, their attempt to escape came with a high price. One 16-year-old male perished in the river’s currents, while another person was apprehended by casino security. The remaining 40 individuals, including five females, successfully reached safety.
These individuals have alleged that they were grossly undercompensated, receiving a mere $400 to $500 of their promised $800 monthly earnings. They also assert that they were refused even the most fundamental right to rest periods during their work time.
While the casino supervisor has confessed to “compelling the group to work against their wishes,” a legal defense has been presented claiming the escaped workers were indebted to the casino. This is particularly alarming considering that none of the workers possessed legitimate passports, let alone work permits for Cambodia.
The head of the An Giang Province Police Department, Dinh Van Noi, verified accounts from individuals who fell prey to a plan that illegally transported more than 2,000 Vietnamese nationals to Cambodia for casino labor.
Numerous individuals were enticed by assurances of well-compensated positions but were subsequently coerced into illicit work. Chief Noi emphasized that the gaming establishments frequently requested payments reaching as much as $30,000 from employees frantic to go back to Vietnam. Fortunately, collaborative operations between Vietnamese and Cambodian officials have facilitated the return of over 250 of these laborers just within the initial six months of 2021.
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