Immigration launches probe into unpaid wages amid protests by expats
MPS revealed that they were taken into the custody of Immigration
Several expatriates protested against unpaid wages
Maldives Immigration has launched an investigation into the case of unpaid wages for 55 expatriates who protested in the Green Zone on Saturday.
A large throng of expatriates protested in the Mulee'aage area, claiming they had not been paid their wages.
They gathered at the Mulee'aage region on Saturday morning to protest against the failure to pay their dues.
When they were pushed back from the area, they attempted to gather in the President's Office region later. The expatriates then gathered in front of Majeedhiyya School around 11:00am on Saturday and raised their voices in protest.
Expatriates who provided information to RaajjeTV said that they had been working without pay for more than six months, and that they had tried to talk to the company they work for and resolve the issue. They also said that they had gone to the high commission of India and Bangladesh in the Maldives in an attempt to resolve the issue, to no avail as they received no response.
On Saturday, Controller General of Immigration Mohamed Shamaan Waheed said that they are investigating the claims of 55 expatriates who were handed over to the department after protesting, stating that their rights have been violated. Highlighting that they are currently looking into the matters that need to be investigated in relation to the case, Shamaan said that action will be taken against the expatriates after the investigation wraps up.
Maldives Police Service (MPS) revealed that they attended to the case of expatriates expressing dissatisfaction near Mulee'aage, claiming they have not received their salaries.
MPS revealed that they were taken into the custody of Immigration. This includes 38 Indians and 17 Bangladeshi nationals.
In addition to this, around 6:22pm on Friday, a group of Indians are to have been reportedly involved in a fight at the Artificial Beach region. Further investigations have been launched in connection with the assault. However, no arrests have been made in connection with the case so far.
As expatriate activities increase, Immigration continues to conduct special inspections to deport expatriates staying in the Maldives illegally.
