Gov’t Reveals List of Over 1,000 Companies with Unpaid Migrant Worker Fees

The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology has released a list of over 1,000 companies that have failed to pay migrant work quota and work permit fees.

This list includes 1,026 companies with accrued fees and fines exceeding MVR 100,000, among which 123 companies owe fines surpassing MVR 1 million.

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Futsan International Pvt Ltd tops the list, owing the state an astounding MVR 26.8 million. Hotels and Resort Construction Pvt Ltd, fourth on the list and owing MVR12.5 million, is owned by Mohamed Ali Janah – the construction magnate and advisor to the President.

Notable companies among the top 123 also include Sun Construction, SJ Construction, Coastline Investments, and Rainbow Construction.

This marks the first time the government has publicly published a list of companies with unpaid work permits and quota fees, highlighting significant names mainly in the construction sector.

ބިދޭސީންނާއި ގުޅިގެން ދައްކަން ޖެހޭ ފީތަކާއި ޖޫރިމަނާ pic.twitter.com/Z3jeLfjVB1— Ministry of Homeland Security & Technology, MV (@HomeMinistrymv) July 25, 2024

The current administration has prioritised addressing the issue of undocumented migrant workers, with the ministry leading nationwide efforts to collect information on all migrant workers and identify those lacking valid documents. This has included raids on businesses operated by migrant workers.

Recent research has highlighted that the majority of migrant workers enter the country legally but become undocumented due to employer exploitation. Reports of employers withholding salaries to migrant workers or withholding passports and failing to provide necessary work permit and visa documents are common.

The government has proposed legislation to fine employers MVR 50,000 if they fail to pay their foreign workers.