Maldives Immigration has revealed that the body will be taking legal action against those employing foreign artists over locals, an issue that is rampant in the tourism sector.
Despite the shattering effect of the pandemic on an already fragile sector, some resort establishments have disregarded the impact it has had on local artists and, rather than providing them with opportunities, have chosen to marginalise the local musicians’ community by openly recruiting foreign artists to perform at resorts even while the law prohibits it under ‘Regulation No. R-62/2020, of the Employment Act 2/2008’.
Immigration stated that they had been receiving and reviewing multiple complaints of foreigners entering the Maldives under various permits to work illegally. 60 notices have been issued thus far to repatriate foreigners working illegally in the Maldives in this way.
Recently, the Musician’s Union of Maldives commenced a campaign to raise concern and take legal action on establishments recruiting foreign musicians to perform unlawfully in the Maldives.
