The Male' City Council has announced that stall owners in the Travelers Market, where foreigners have been found working without proper passes, have been fined.
The city council stated that a total of nine stall owners have been fined for employing individuals without the required authorisation as of March. The fines amount to USD129 for a first offense and USD260 along with a red notice for repeated violations. If the infraction occurs a third time, the city council will exercise its legal authority to take control of the stall.
The stalls in both the local market and the Travelers Market are predominantly owned by locals, yet a significant number of foreigners are involved in their operation. The increase of illegal foreign workers has become a growing concern, not only in the Travelers Market but also in other areas such as the fish market and on fishing vessels. Many residents fear that the trend may result in the displacement of local businesses and job opportunities by foreign workers.