Majlis approves changes to Employment Act setting limit for migrant workers

The People’s Majlis has passed an amendment to the Employment Act, which limits the number of migrant workers arriving in the Maldives from one country.

While the parliament approved the government-endorsed amendments to the Employment Act at Sunday’s sitting, a number of amendments were added during the debate stage of the committee report.

The amendments proposed to the Employment Act were reviewed by both the economic and social affairs’ committees.

During the debate stage, Ihavandhoo constituency MP Mohamed Shifau proposed amendments related to migrant workers.

The change sets 100,000 as a limit for migrant workers from one country, and given the instance that the number exceeds currently, the required changes have to be brought within three years after the amendments to the Employment Act are ratified.

While officials have revealed that there are nearly 200,000 migrants workers in the Maldives, and about half of them are living in the country illegally.

Deceptive recruitment practices, wage theft, passport confiscation as well as unsafe living and working conditions are some of the abuses migrant workers face in the Maldives.

They have contributed immensely to the development of the country and are an “integral” part of our society, as a population that makes up a significant part of the communities of Maldives.