Expatriates who violate curfew to be detained and deported

Maldives Immigration have begun efforts to deport expatriate workers found in violation of curfews implemented in order to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The programme is being conducted by Maldives Police Service (MPS) and Maldives, in association with the Ministry of Economic Development. Immigration has revealed that those expatriates found to be in violation of curfews implemented in order to curb the spread of Covid-19. Efforts are underway to have such parties moved to a detention center established in Hulhumale' Phase II.

Those expat workers without work permits found in violation will be transferred to detention, from where they will undergo a legal deportation process.

The regularization programme for undocumented expatriate workers, which would allow them to be registered with the government, was started once more after being halted in Match 2021.

The process to have undocumented migrant workers regularized is part of a massive effort which has seen thousands of expats regularized over the past few months. The government of Maldives has issued a six month period through which all undocumented expatriate workers are required to register and legalize their stay in the country.

A company employing undocumented workers, or the workers themselves, have the option to undertake the regularization process through an online portal.

Authorities have revealed that there are over 130,000 Bangladesh nationals with work permits believed to reside in the country, of which 63,000 expat workers remain unregularized.

The regularization programme being conducted by the government of Maldives has been praised by the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh as well. The programme allows unregularized migrant workers the option to leave the Maldives andreturn to their native country if they wish to do so.