Unregistered expats will be deported from Sunday, president says
President Muizzu said irregular migration had been a major issue under previous administrations but no substantial action had been taken.
More than 9,000 foreign workers have been deported over the past two years, and any worker who fails to complete biometric registration will not be allowed to remain in the Maldives from Sunday, President Mohamed Muizzu said on Friday.
The Home Ministry earlier noted that some workers brought into the Maldives under employers registered on the Expat Online system were not properly registered. The initial deadline for completing biometric data collection was April, later extended to October after many failed to comply. The final deadline expires on Saturday.
The Ministry has previously stated that foreigners who do not submit their biometrics by the deadline will be deported without further delay.
Speaking at a PNC rally, President Muizzu said irregular migration had been a major issue under previous administrations but no substantial action had been taken. When the current government assumed office, he said, the authorities did not have accurate information on the number or location of foreign workers in the country.
According to the President:
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Biometric data, including 10 fingerprints, has been collected from 191,023 foreigners under the government’s “Kurangi” operation.
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The government now has data on foreign workers residing in the Maldives and their locations.
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A total of 9,021 foreigners have been deported in the past two years, an increase of more than 143 per cent compared to the previous administration.
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Deportees include undocumented migrants, foreign nationals involved in criminal activity, and those unwilling to regularise their status.
“The deadline ends tomorrow. Any foreigner who does not register or provide biometrics will be deported immediately if found in the operation starting the next day,” President Muizzu said.
Employers who bring foreign workers to the Maldives and then fail to register or monitor them will face fines and restrictions. The Home Ministry said:
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Employers who abandon or neglect a foreign worker will be fined MVR 50,000.
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In some cases, fines may reach up to MVR 100,000.
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Employers will not be able to use the Expat system again until fines are paid.
Home Minister Ali Ihsan previously said the root cause of irregular migration often lies with Maldivian employers who illegally bring foreign workers into the country, charge them large sums of money, and then release them into the community without oversight.
