Fees, fines related to expats are over MVR 1.7 billion
The Home Ministry is reviewing the rules on bringing foreign workers to Maldives following the problems arising from unregulated expatriates.
By
Shahudha Mohamed
The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology has ordered employers to pay more than MVR 1.7 billion within two weeks for permits issued to expatriates in the Maldives.
The Ministry gazetted a notice on Tuesday that a large number of people have not paid fees and penalties due under the Employment Act and the Foreigners Employment in Maldivian regulations. Thus:
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More than MVR 1.7 billion is outstanding
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This is the money owed to the state as wages for more than 100,000 foreign workers registered in the names of more than 10,000 employers
“Therefore, employers are hereby directed to pay all fees and penalties required by law in relation to foreign workers before June 18, 2024,” the Home Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry further said that those who have not paid the fees and penalties by the deadline:
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Will be announced publicly
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They will be suspended from the expat system
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The issuance of new permits will be suspended for them
For further information, the ministry advises to contact hotline 1500 or email [email protected].
The Home Ministry is reviewing the rules on bringing foreign workers to Maldives following the problems arising from undocumented expatriates and unregulated ones.
As a result of the work, the issuance of quotas, work permits, deposit refunds and other services required to bring foreigners to work in Maldives may be delayed beyond the normal service period, the ministry said on Tuesday.
"Therefore, we apologise for the inconvenience caused to the service recipients," the ministry said in the statement that was gazetted on Tuesday.
“We have also informed them that we are working with the migrant workers to complete the services requested by the ministry at the earliest.”
