Govt collects over 18,000 expatriate workers' biometric data
According to the ministry, the operation has commenced in 194 islands, with work completed in 50.
Homeland security ministry announced on Wednesday that biometric data for more than 18,000 expatriate workers in the Maldives has been collected under Operation Kurangi, which was launched in April.
The first phase of the operation aims to ensure that all foreigners in the Maldives are employed in compliance with the country's laws and regulations.
According to the ministry, the operation has commenced in 194 islands, with work completed in 50.
Key measures under Operation Kurangi include:
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Collecting fingerprints of foreigners working in the Maldives.
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Ensuring that foreign workers comply with Maldivian laws and regulations.
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Setting up biometric data collection points in council offices for this purpose.
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Compiling a main register of foreigners based on the information collected.
Operation Kurangi is being carried out in three phases as part of the government’s efforts to address the issue of illegal immigrants.
The phases include:
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1-
First year: Identifying the countries of origin of foreigners, their distribution across the Maldives, their sponsors, and workplaces.
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2-
Next two years: Identifying undocumented individuals, creating biometric records, and issuing photo identification.
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3-
Final phase: Deporting individuals without information in government records by coordinating with their respective embassies to obtain original documentation and verify identities.
The ministry stated that the operation is designed to provide a long-term solution to the issue of undocumented immigrants in the Maldives.
