Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan has stated that the number of unskilled labourers from Bangladesh do not exceed the legal limit of 100,000.
Speaking at a press conference, Minister Ihusaan reiterated the government's decision to resume labour recruitment from Bangladesh. He cited a thorough assessment of the current foreign labour population, which stands at 90,624 Bangladeshi labourers, according to the Immigration Border Control System.
Additionally, Minister Ihusaan pointed out regulatory compliance gaps and inconsistent recording of foreigner departures, leading to data discrepancies. He called for increased efforts to strengthen the sector and address issues related to foreigners, emphasising the necessity of fortifying the overall system for accurate tracking and management of foreign labour in the Maldives.
The ministry recently resumed the recruitment of unskilled labour from Bangladesh, temporarily halting such labour from other nations. The entry of foreign labourers is capped at 100,000 per country, as per the September 2020 amendment to the law. The previous administration temporarily suspended the entry of unskilled labour from Bangladesh due to exceeding the legal limit.
Minister Ihusaan also announced the launch of a significant operation aimed at compiling data on foreigners residing in the Maldives within one year. He underscored the importance of obtaining accurate information about the foreign population in the Maldives. He also revealed that the operation is a collaborative effort involving the homeland ministry, Maldives Immigration, and relevant agencies.
Additionally, Minister Ihusaan highlighted the limited number of companies regularly maintaining records of foreign labourers and being accountable to authorities. He noted that only 36% of people consistently update the information, with 50% of them predominantly employing Bangladeshi labourers. He also said that the current system indicates the issuance of work permits to approximately 139,000 foreigners, of which 90,634 are from Bangladesh.
Furthermore, Minister Ihusaan expressed concerns about the incomplete information given to the new administration, emphasising its implications for national security. He confirmed the transfer of foreigner affairs management to the homeland ministry, outlining the initial step as determining the exact number of foreigners. He also said that verification will be conducted through the Immigration Border Security System, followed by the collection of detailed information on their residence and activities in the Maldives.
Despite acknowledging the enormity of the task, Minister Ihusaan assured the public that the administration is committed to its completion. He said that the operation will encompass all islands, industrial islands in the atolls, and the Greater Male' Region, with individualised data storage for each foreigner. He also said that decisions regarding illegal immigrants will be made after information gathering.