The government has warned employers that all services provided through the online expatriate system will be suspended if relevant fees are not paid on time.
In an announcement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology stated that employers who fail to pay expatriate-related fees regularly will no longer be able to register new work sites, request new quota allocations, or issue new work permits. However, employers making regular payments under previously signed settlement agreements will not be affected.
This move comes amid a broader government initiative to address the issue of undocumented migrant workers. While authorities continue to deport those residing in the country without legal documentation, they have also introduced opportunities for these workers to regularise their status.
Additionally, the government has launched a nationwide initiative to collect biometric data of all expatriate workers as part of its efforts to address long-standing immigration challenges.
Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan had previously stated that the unpaid fees inherited by the current administration amounted to USD 116.72 million. Of this, approximately USD 71.34 million has been recovered, reducing the outstanding balance to around USD 38.77 million.
To ease the financial burden on smaller businesses, the government introduced flexible payment plans for employers with less than USD 6,485 in unpaid expatriate fees.
There are more than 50,000 individuals and companies employing foreign workers in the Maldives. However, official data from the Ministry indicates that over 90 percent—more than 45,000 employers—do not pay these fees regularly.
