President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has decided on important measures to address the issue of illegal immigrants in the Maldives, following a comprehensive discussion on a proposal submitted by the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology during a cabinet meeting.
Following discussions with the cabinet on illegal immigrants in the Maldives, measures were reviewed for expatriates across inhabited, resort, industrial, and agricultural islands. Steps include implementing 10 fingerprint scans and facial recognition for identification, alongside programmes for regularisation and Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) for those opting to return home voluntarily.
The cabinet has also resolved to strengthen the enforcement system to address illegal immigration in the Maldives. It includes establishing and publicly disclosing a list of companies that neglect their responsibilities towards migrant workers upon arrival, enforcing penalties for employer non-compliance, and taking further action if these issues recur.
Furthermore, the cabinet decided to conduct audits and pursue strict legal action against illegal immigrants in the Maldives. It is intended to eliminate obstacles to employment opportunities for Maldivian youth, which are caused by the presence of illegal migrant workers. The cabinet also decided to place amendments to the Maldives Employment Act at the earliest to provide a permanent solution to the problem of illegal immigrants in the country.
The government is taking strategic measures to solve the issue of illegal immigrants. As such, efforts are underway to centralise information on all foreigners in the Maldives into a unified database, aiming to resolve related issues within a three-year timeframe.