Indian Chef Rescued from Exploitative Work Conditions at Maldives Resort

A 24-year-old chef from Bhayandar, Mann Parikh, has returned to India after allegedly enduring nearly a year of exploitation and harassment while working at a resort in the Maldives. 

According to reports in Indian media, his repatriation was facilitated by the Bharosa Cell of the Mira-Bhayandar Vasai-Virar police, following persistent efforts by his mother, Gayatri Parikh.

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Local media reports and Mann’s details available online indicate that the resort in question is Rahaa Resort in Laamu Atoll.

Mann, a trained hotel management graduate, left for the Maldives in December 2023 to work as a chef, drawn by the promise of better pay abroad. However, within weeks of starting his job, he contacted his mother, alleging that he was being forced to work over 20 hours daily under harsh conditions and denied proper food.

Gayatri, 55, began a six-month-long campaign to secure her son’s return. “I approached the police, Mantralaya, and even wrote to the Indian embassy in the Maldives,” she said. Despite her efforts, the situation remained unresolved for months, with the resort’s owner allegedly refusing to release Mann, citing his contract and withholding his passport.

In desperation, Gayatri reached out to the Bharosa Cell, which supports women, children, and senior citizens in distress. Police sub-inspector Tejashree Shinde stated, “We spoke with the resort’s owner and explained Mann’s dissatisfaction and his request to return to India. After negotiations, the employer eventually agreed.”

On November 17, Mann was released, and he flew back to Mumbai, reuniting with his family.

Gayatri also highlighted a broader issue, claiming that at least 15 other men at the same resort were reportedly facing similar conditions and were unable to leave. She urged authorities to address the systemic exploitation of workers in similar circumstances.

This case sheds light on the vulnerabilities faced by migrant workers in foreign countries, including confiscation of passports and poor working conditions, and underscores the importance of robust mechanisms to protect their rights.