The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has sought from the authorities to take action against employers who deny basic rights of migrant workers.

In a statement on Tuesday, the commission noted that the condition of migrant workers in the country has observably worsened since the Covid-19 outbreak in Maldives.

In this regard, the commission highlighted that migrant workers must be provided the basic amenities such as adequate shelter, food and medical treatment if they fall ill, by the employer or person in charge of their welfare.

As such, HRCM has sought from the relevant authorities to take legal action on those who fail to follow through and hold them responsible.

HRCM has also urged to ensure basic human rights are maintained for migrant workers in the Maldives that are undocumented for different reasons.

Highlighting that the pandemic does not spread among a “specific race or community”, HRCM also pushed the media to maintain human dignity and respect everyone when reporting to the public.

This comes at a time photos of Bangladeshi workers living poorly and being subject to ill-treatment have been circulating on social media, with several users raising concern over the issue of some Maldivian employers failing to attend to the basic rights of migrant workers after bringing them to the country for employment.