Remand sentences of the 19 migrant workers arrested over the unrest that took place in Bodufinolhu island of Baa atoll earlier this month, has been extended.
While the workers were remanded by 15 days on July 4 by the Eydhafushi Magistrate Court , they were presented to the Criminal Court for remand extension on Saturday, who gave them an additional 15 days.
The workers were arrested following an unrest in Bodufinolhu islan; an island under resort development. The migrant workers, who have been protesting over months of unpaid wages, ended up taking 13 hostages. The matter was resolved the next day, an all 13 were rescued.
The issue did not arise overnight, the workers have been peacefully protesting since May.
The Bodufinolhu resort development project is being carried out by RIX Maldives, a company owned by parliament representative for Milandhoo constituency, Ali Riza. While he has admitted to not having paid salaries of the workers for months, he blames this on Seal Maldives, who contracted his company for the development project.
Police have launched an investigation into the human trafficking allegations against RIX Company. It also accused the company of exploiting its workers, as well as failing to provide employment fees on behalf of its foreign employees.
There have been additional protests by migrant workers since the Bodufinolhu incident, in capital Malé, also over the failure to provide wages. As such, 41 workers were arrested last Monday as well, and remanded by 15 days.
The police also said that it “strongly condemns such violent behaviours that put life and property of the public and security services at risk”.
Police also urged all to “not to resort to violence in the name of industrial conflicts” and instead to seek legal measures to resolve issues such as unpaid wages and other contractual disagreements between employees and employers.
Local anti-corruption NGO, Transparency Maldives described the Bodufinolhu unrest as “a consequence of injustices suffered by migrant workers in the Maldives, every day” and called on the state to investigate the issues that led to the unrest and take legal action against those who violated migrant workers’ rights, "instead of re-victimising them".
