Maldives Immigration has reported an increase in the number of expatriates working at Malé City’s local market with valid visas, following a special operation conducted during Ramadan to address concerns about irregular foreign workers engaged in commerce.
Authorities have long received complaints about expatriates conducting business without proper documentation, prompting Immigration to launch inspections at various market areas in the capital. The operation began on February 18th, with officers inspecting smaller market stalls and apprehending two individuals working without valid permits. This was followed by further inspections at the local market and travellers’ market areas.
On February 22nd, Immigration identified stalls that were being discreetly operated by expatriates. A subsequent inspection on February 24th involved document checks of those running these venues, as part of broader efforts to regulate the sector.
In an update shared on X, Immigration stated that its operation had led to a rise in the number of immigrant workers holding valid visas. The authority also revealed that its ‘Immigration Watch’ whistleblower platform had received reports of predatory business practices by foreign vendors during Ramadan.
This marks the second large-scale crackdown on irregular expatriate business operations at local markets. A previous operation had uncovered multiple cases of unlawful stall ownership by expatriates.
The current administration has pledged to resolve the issue of undocumented foreign workers within its first presidential term, with Immigration launching a nationwide biometric data collection initiative for all expatriates in the country.
