Suspension on Indian, Nepali workers lifted

Saying that the state is forced to allow as many foreign workers as required for the 'extraordinary' large-scale projects planned in the country, the Homeland Ministry on Wednesday lifted a suspension on unskilled workers from both and Nepal.

The government on Sunday lifted a previous government's ban on unskilled workers from Bangladesh, although active work permits for Bangladeshis exceed the 100,000 per country limit set by law for foreign workers. According to the government, 90,000 Bangladeshi workers are in Maldives and the rest are uncanceled permits of those who have already left the country.

It was followed by a suspension of unskilled workers from other countries.

Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihsan told a news conference on Wednesday that the suspension has now been lifted for workers from India and Nepal.

“This means that unskilled labourers from India and Nepal can be brought in from Wednesday,” the minister said.

"The rest of the countries, once we've done these assessments, we'll change it to what it usually is."

The minister said that while major projects are underway in Maldives, the projects force to allow foreign workers to be brought in.

"Extraordinarily large construction projects are planned on newly dredged land and existing dredged land. There is no availability of unskilled labor for these projects," he said.

"Therefore, it is imperative that we open the border so that enough people can enter."

Measures to ensure that undocumented workers are not brought in from any country include, according to the minister: