Workers set construction equipment and other materials on fire last week over alleged unpaid wages at a Koh Kong complex, which has seen a mix of departing foreign workers, rumors of severe violence, and continued activity amid Cambodia’s scam crackdown.
The compound, known by the local village’s name of Prek Khsach, is just north of the LYP Kiri Sakor Koh Kong SEZ — roughly halfway between the Koh Kong Resort casino area to the north and the Union Development Group’s Dara Sakor land concession to the south. Both of those other projects have been sanctioned by the U.S.
Satellite images appear to show that around 80 buildings in the Prek Khsach complex were built within the past year.
Satellite images of land changes and construction at the compound called “Prek Khsach” near tycoon Ly Yong Phat’s port in Cambodia’s Koh Kong province, from the European Union’s Copernicus browser. The left-most image depicts Feb. 2025 and the right depicts Feb. 2026.
A wave of videos hit social media last week showing fires at the entrance to the complex, angry workers holding sticks and metal rods, and broken windows and damaged motorbikes. The protest reportedly involved both Cambodian and foreign workers demanding payment.
On Thursday, the area was calm but busy. Groups of foreign workers rolled their luggage inside the gates, apparently leaving the compound after the latest disquiet. Some construction workers were beginning repairs on broken windows, and cleaning up the ash and debris that remained from the protest. One security guard on the road outside wore a Koh Kong Resort uniform.
Kunthea, a street vendor in her 30s, said many foreign workers had fled during and after the protest.
There had also been several previous protests and growing resentment toward security guards, she said.
“This protest went too far. … Previous protests were protests at the office,” she said.
“The issue with workers not getting paid is everywhere, and it’s not only here. … Our economy is in sharp decline after the announcement of the scam boss’s arrest,” she said, referring to the deportation of Prince Group chairman Chen Zhi. “We are struggling very much to earn money.”
Construction workers’ protests have also been reported in Sihanoukville’s notorious scam area known as Chinatown and in Bavet city, one of the country’s main hubs for scam compounds.
Kunthea added that foreign workers had actually been arriving at the Prek Khsach complex in recent weeks as raids hit other scam complexes around Koh Kong and other parts of the country.
Leak, a recycler in her 40s, recalled an exodus of foreign workers after the protest.
“Chinese people left the building like a herd of cows at 7 a.m., and because the road is narrow they came this way, running like a swarm of ants. … They ran to the beach, some carrying bags or suitcases. They were thirsty because they didn’t have water and they asked for water and we offered them water,” Leak said.
“They are much hungrier than us. Some people are OK while some are bad and it is like us.”
She added that in the past she had collected bloodied mattresses from the compound.
“We washed it three times and the blood didn’t go away. … I had to throw it out because I almost vomited and it smelled too bad.”
She also claimed to have seen a man walking past dragging a bloody foot.
A Cambodian worker in his 20s said there were many rumors of violence at the compound, and he had himself seen security guards hurting foreign workers, including claiming that he had seen bodies buried and burned.
A social media video from December also claimed violence against a Bangladeshi worker inside, showing the wounds on the worker’s shoulders and legs.
Prek Khsach commune police chief Sorn Dara said the labor issue had been resolved and denied the protest had caused any injuries.
“Now it’s been quiet,” Sorn Dara said. “It’s normal because they clash with each other and throw [things] at each other, the company construction workers and company security.”
The Kiri Sakor district administration posted on Facebook that Panda Roadbridge Construction would pay the workers what it could for now, and would pay out the remainder later. It asked workers to be “patient” and “please do not commit any violence.”
Social media videos appeared to show workers continuing to block roads around the complex.
Cambodian workers at the Long Bay area of the southern Dara Sakor development were also seeking compensation last week.
Dozens of workers were gathered outside the Long Bay Century Hotel on Wednesday as police and military police officers stood guard.
One of the workers said bonuses had been unpaid for seven months, but the company had now agreed to pay out 50 percent of the amount — even to about the 90 percent of workers who had recently been fired.
The Long Bay area has been largely cleared out amid the nationwide scam crackdown, but last week it had a larger presence of police and military police officers. Every building entrance had five or six armed military police officers outside. They blocked people from taking photos of the area. The Long Bay Century Hotel was a new construction.
Satellite images of land changes and construction in a section of the Long Bay Dara Sakor compound area in Cambodia’s Koh Kong province, from the European Union’s Copernicus browser. The left-most image depicts Feb. 2024 and the right depicts Feb. 2025.
Bus company Vireak Buntham was busy transporting refrigerators, washing machines and other items.
The Shanghai building had a court document stuck to its gate closing down the building. Unfinished food and a bottle of water were left on a chair outside. A volleyball court was empty, and a large pile of rubbish gave off a bad smell. The compound is one of the older ones in the area, with satellite images showing it was built between 2019 and 2020.
Satellite images of land changes and construction of the Shanghai buildings in the Dara Sakor area of Cambodia’s Koh Kong province, from the European Union’s Copernicus browser. The left-most image depicts Feb. 2019, the middle shows Feb. 2020 and image on the right shows Jan. 2026.
Prek Smach village chief Ching Vanna said scam bosses appeared to have fled before the officers arrived.
“They did not find the bosses and we do not know how, and they might have fled in advance. … When the police arrived, they ran and fled and scattered everywhere.”
Local police, including Koh Sdach commune police chief Chamroeun Chamrong and Koh Kong provincial deputy police commissioner Kao Bunkim, did not answer questions about the raids.
Koh Kong provincial labor department director Youk Sangvath more than 100 workers had been involved in the Prek Khsach protest, and more than 50 in the Long Bay case. Both cases involved a small cashflow issue, he said.
