Expat taskforce expands with food safety, health authorities
The task force formed by the Home Ministry, Police and Immigration will now include HPA, MFDA and the Economic Ministry.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA), the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) and the Economic Ministry have been added to the task force set up to tackle the problem of illegal immigrants in Maldives.
A task force was formed by the Home Ministry, Police and Immigration to find a permanent solution to the foreigners issue.
However, in light of some recent developments, the composition of the task force has now been changed on the orders of the President, Home Minister Ali Ihsan said.
Speaking at a joint press conference held on Thursday by three ministries to provide information on solving the problem of expatriates and food security, Minister Ihsan gave further details of the changes. According to him, under the change:
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HPA, MFDA and Economic Ministry have been added to the task force
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The agencies will participate in future operational activities such as raiding premises on behalf of the task force; special measures will be taken
“So from Thursday onwards, the task force will continue to work as a combination of all these task forces,” Ihsan said.
“The President's instruction is for the ministries to work closely to find a solution to this major national problem”.
In the raids that are ongoing even now, the practice so far has been to arrest foreigners and take necessary action against them under the Immigration Act, he said. However, with the changes in the task force:
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They will be closed, and their business will be closed
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The place will be reopened on conditions set by the Ministry
“Similarly, places that we identify as harmful to public health, whether it is a kitchen, restaurant, cafe or something being done behind a shop, we will close them under the Health Protection Agency and shut it down,” he said, noting that such businesses will be allowed to reopen only after they meet ministry requirements.
Health Minister Abdullah Khaleel spoke at the press conference about the work of the newly added HPA and MFDA within the taskforce. He said:
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Unregistered health-related businesses will be closed; the taskforce will provide necessary assistance to other institutions
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Food Safety Act to be implemented from Friday; under the Act, the MFDA will have special powers
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The Health Protection Agency will continue to take necessary measures under the Public Health Act
On behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Registrar of Companies Maryam Visam spoke about the role of the Ministry in the task force. According to her:
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The task force will identify establishments operating in violation of the Business Registration Act during ongoing raids; action will be taken against unregistered establishments and the businesses will be shut down
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The task force will re-register the places it decides to shut down and allow them to operate in accordance with the law and regulations by obtaining a special permit issued by the Ministry; the procedure has now been completed
"... Even under the Private Individual Business Act, it is prohibited for a foreigner to engage in any kind of activity or business for financial gain hiding behind a Maldivian”, he said, and that action will be taken against such people as well, through work of the task force, he said.
