Cabinet granted authority to exempt foreign worker quota fees!
Once the bill is enacted into law, employers may be exempted from existing regulations when applying for foreign labor quotas by paying an annual fee of MVR 2,000 per worker, a discretionary power vested in the Cabinet.
Foreigner data being collected under 'Operation Hamamagu'. | Immigration | Immigration
Parliament has passed an amendment granting the Cabinet the authority to exempt employers within specific business sectors from paying mandatory quota fees.
The Parliament passed the resolution under the most recent amendment to the Employment Act. This amendment stipulates that certain businesses may be exempted from paying quota fees based on specific criteria.
Once the bill is enacted into law, an annual fee of MVR 2,000 per migrant worker may be paid to exempt employers from the standard quota requirements for bringing foreign labor into the Maldives. The authority to grant such exemptions shall be vested in the Cabinet of Ministers.
Furthermore, the bill outlines four specific criteria that must be taken into consideration when making such a determination.
These objectives include establishing a conducive environment for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and expanding long-term employment opportunities within the sector. Furthermore, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between small businesses and large corporations, while fostering market competitiveness and encouraging the introduction of innovative ideas, products, and services.
Employers are responsible for obtaining three specific permits prior to bringing a foreign national to the Maldives for employment. These requirements include registering the workplace where the expatriate will be employed, securing the necessary employment quota, and obtaining a valid work permit.
The regulations and fine structures for penalizing those who violate the law were detailed in previous amendments made to the regulations under this Act. Accordingly, negligence toward an expatriate or any violation of the regulations will result in fines exceeding MVR 50,000.
