The government has reintroduced stricter regulations on recruiting Bangladeshi workers after initially easing restrictions in December 2023. The decision comes amid concerns over human trafficking, with authorities flagging suspicious transactions linked to large-scale recruitment.
Between November 17, 2023, and January 30, 2025, 75,542 foreign workers arrived in the Maldives on work permits. Of these, 17,039 were Bangladeshi nationals. The Maldives Employment Act allows a maximum of 100,000 workers from any single country. The previous administration had halted recruitment from Bangladesh after determining that the quota had been reached. However, following a four-year pause, the current government resumed issuing work permits in December 2023, approving 14,689 permits for Bangladeshi non-professional workers across 3,174 employers.
Authorities later stopped recruitment from Bangladesh on March 30, 2024, after a surge in arrivals raised trafficking concerns. Regulations were later adjusted, allowing Bangladeshi workers to enter only for government-related projects starting from June 29, 2024.
Under the revised rules, private employers can now apply to bring in Bangladeshi workers, but with stricter conditions. Individuals who pay regular fees and are not blacklisted may recruit up to 10 workers. As of January 30, 2025, 2,350 work permits had been approved across 510 employers, covering both government and private sector needs. The authorities have declined to disclose the number of workers brought in by individual parties.
Alongside new recruitment measures, efforts to manage undocumented foreign workers have also continued. Between November 17, 2023, and January 23, 2025, 7,375 foreigners left the Maldives following work permit cancellations, while 6,315 were deported.
The government has reiterated its commitment to addressing illegal recruitment and trafficking while ensuring a regulated process for foreign worker entry.
