Government Enforces Fees for Reporting Missing Migrant Workers

The government has initiated the enforcement of fees for employers who report foreign employees as missing or having escaped from their workplace.

The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology announced that the fees, mandated by a regulation from the Labour Relations Authority (LRA), will be implemented from November.

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According to the regulation, employers must pay a fee of MVR 1,000 to report a foreign worker with a valid work permit as missing in the government’s Xpat migrant worker management system. Additionally, a fee of MVR 10,000 is required to withdraw a missing report from the system. If an employee goes missing or escapes due to the employer’s negligence, the employer must pay MVR 2,000.

The ministry’s press release noted that employers who have already reported foreign workers as missing have until 5th November to withdraw these requests without incurring any charges. After this date, employers will have seven days to withdraw reports to avoid the new fees.

While the government has increased efforts to regulate undocumented migrant workers, many foreign employees, particularly in the construction sector, reportedly flee due to mistreatment or non-payment of wages. Research highlights that Bangladeshi workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, often leading to their escape and subsequent undocumented status.