The Maldivian government has proposed an amendment to the Employment Act aimed at safeguarding the rights of expatriate workers. The amendment includes provisions to impose a fine of MVR 50,000 on employers who are negligent towards expatriate workers and outlines specific instances of such negligence.
According to the proposed amendment, if an employer neglects their responsibilities towards an expatriate worker after bringing them to the Maldives, the concerned authorities are mandated to take action against them. The bill stipulates that the names of negligent employers will be publicised, they will be fined MVR 50,000, and their permits to bring in expatriate workers will be suspended for a designated period.
The amendment defines four specific instances of negligence:
1. Failure to pay salaries.
2. Failure to fulfil basic duties as defined by a regulation made under this law.
3. Exploitation when bringing in expatriates or forcing them to engage in unlawful activities.
4. Making expatriates work in a different job than the one they were brought in for.
The bill further grants related agencies the authority to inspect illegal establishments without prior notice, seek information from expatriate workers, and take other necessary actions. Additionally, it outlines guidelines for issuing quotas and work permits for expatriate workers.
This legislative move comes in the wake of heightened efforts by Maldives Immigration, in collaboration with the police, to identify and address illegal employment practices. Over the past two months, approximately 200 expatriates working or living illegally in the Maldives have been detained and placed on the list for deportation. In the past eight months, over 2,000 expatriates have been deported as part of this crackdown.
The proposed amendment is part of a broader initiative to ensure the fair treatment of expatriate workers and to hold employers accountable for their responsibilities.
