Police question MP reg. company's human trafficking violations

Milandhoo constituency MP, Ali Riza, has been questioned by police in regards to the human trafficking allegation against RIX Maldives.

Riza is the managing director of RIX Maldives, the company accused of human trafficking violations as well as exploiting workers and depriving their rights.

While police’s media officer confirmed that Riza has been questioned in the investigation into the company, no further details were disclosed.

The lawmaker declined to comment on the matter.

Police on Monday announced that investigations have been launched against RIX Maldives, accusing the company of exploiting its workers, as well as failing to provide employment fees on behalf of its foreign employees.

Further, RIX Maldives is accused of sourcing trafficked expatriate workers from various islands and forcing them to continue working without giving their salaries. Police also claims that the company had threatened workers who voiced their concern over the failure to provide wages, saying that they will be terminated and sent back to capital Malé.

While the migrant workers at RIX Maldives have been protesting for months over unpaid wages, the situation escalated last week with the workers taking 13 Maldivians as hostages. While all the hostages were rescued early Friday morning, 19 of the workers that partook in the protests were arrested and subsequently remanded by 15 days. All 19 workers were hired for the Bodufinolhu resort development project.

RIX Maldives has admitted to not paying the migrant workers for month, claiming that this was due to the project owner Seal Maldives’ failure to make payments. Seal Maldives denies this, and said that RIX Maldives has been paid more than owed.