Gov’t Proposes Amendment to Employment Act to Protect Expats
Photo: MV+
The Government has proposed an amendment to the Employment Act aimed at levying fines on employers who exhibit negligence towards expatriate workers.
ބިދޭސީންނާއި ގުޅިގެން ދައްކަން ޖެހޭ ފީތަކާއި ޖޫރިމަނާ pic.twitter.com/Z3jeLfjVB1
— Ministry of Homeland Security & Technology, MV (@HomeMinistrymv) July 25, 2024advertisement
The proposed changes include a fine of MVR 50,000 for employers found guilty of such negligence. According to the amendment, if an employer neglects their responsibilities towards an expatriate after bringing them to the Maldives, the relevant authorities will be required to take action. The names of these employers will be publicised, they will face a fine of MVR 50,000, and their permits to hire expatriate workers will be suspended for a specified period.
The bill outlines four instances of negligence:
- Failure to pay salaries.
- Failure to fulfil basic duties as defined by regulations under this law.
- Exploitation during the recruitment process or forcing expatriates into unlawful activities.
- Assigning expatriates to jobs different from those they were recruited for.
Additionally, the bill empowers related agencies to conduct unannounced inspections of illegal establishments, gather information from expatriate workers, and take other necessary actions. It also specifies the guidelines for issuing quotas and work permits.
In recent months, Maldives Immigration, in collaboration with the police, has conducted raids to identify expatriates working or residing illegally in the Maldives. During this period, around 200 expatriates have been detained and placed on the deportation list. In the past eight months, over 2,000 expatriates have been deported.
