MVR 50k fine for expatriate neglect high, MP Saudulla says
Saudullah's own business is one of the businesses that the government has listed for unpaid expatriate dues.
By
Aishath Maha
The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) MP from Thinadhoo North, Saudullah Hilmy, has said that the government has proposed to fine MVR 50,000 from each employee that neglects the affairs of expatriates brought into Maldives for work.
Saudullah's own business is one of the businesses that the government has listed for not paying the dues of the migrant workers recently. These businesses have to pay more than a million Rufiyaa to the state.
Saudullah said this while speaking on the Employment Act Bill in Parliament on Monday.
The bill proposes an amendment to increase the monthly work permit fee and the annual quota fee, once every 18 months. The fee may be changed by a regulation made under the Act every 18 months at most. The amendment states:
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Both fees may be reviewed and changed at least every three years or for a maximum period of 18 months
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The fee determined after the review shall not exceed 30% of the fee determined at the time
Speaking on the bill, Saudullah said the amount of the fine should be reconsidered at the committee stage.
"MVR 50,000 is not a small amount. If something happens to five people, it is like having to pay MVR 250,000," he said.
Neglect of expatriates includes not paying them salaries, he said, adding that government companies and other employers do not pay the money due for the work done by them in the first place, making it difficult to issue salaries.
“We already have people in companies who have not been paid their salaries for nearly four to five months. This can only be resolved if the dues to these companies are paid first,” Saudullah said.
In his speech, he said the current action against illegal immigrants or fugitives is to deport them, and noted that it does not necessarily penalise them in any way.
"People who are paid USD 350 in the construction sector run away and get on a fishing boat and get USD 1,000, USD 1,500, or even USD 2,000 a month. So, there is no reason why they shouldn't run away," he said.
"There is no punishment for them when they flee. I don't believe that it is a punishment for them to be deported when they go to the airport to leave the country after they have lived in Maldives for as long as they want... The damage is done to the person who brought the expatriate and to the state. The state will not receive the due MVR 350 per month”.
Saudallah said he estimated that 50,000 expatriates were living in hiding in the Maldives. As a result, the state loses MVR 227 million annually, he said.
“Therefore, they must be stopped from running away, whether by imposing additional punishments or by publicising their names,” he said.
The amendment proposed by the government outlines the negligent actions against the foreigners and the penalties for them.
These penalties include:
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Publicly expose employers who neglect foreign workers after bringing them to Maldives
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Fine MVR 50,000 for each negligent employee
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Suspension of services provided to employers in relation to foreign workers under the Act for a specified period, including fining the employer who commits repeated acts of violation; the details are to be explained by a rule made under the law
Acts of negligence against expatriates are considered to be:
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Not paying salaries
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Failure to meet the requirements laid down in the rules made under the Act in the basic matters to be provided by the employer
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Exploitation of foreign workers during or after their arrival in Maldives or employment of them in violation of laws and regulations
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Employment elsewhere, other than the job the foreign worker was brought in for
