Maldives Immigration Calls on Local Councils to Bolster 'Operation Kurangi' in Migrant Worker Crackdown

The role of local councils in supporting the administration's endeavours to address and resolve issues concerning migrant workers is indispensable, particularly those in the outer atolls, according to Maldives Immigration. This call comes at a time when the administration is conducting 'Operation Kurangi,' an initiative aimed at collecting biometric data of all migrant workers, identifying undocumented individuals, and mitigating illegal business activities conducted by migrant workers.

Spearheaded by the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology, the operation is being conducted in collaboration with Maldives Immigration and other pertinent agencies. Maldives Immigration is actively working to extend the operation to the outer atolls, including the execution of raid operations.

In the course of the expansion, Maldives Immigration has successfully conducted operations on two islands within the Kaafu Atoll. Chief Immigration Officer Ahmed Mujthaba, in an interview with PSM News, clarified that these raids are prompted by tips received through the Immigration Watch online platform.

Mujthaba underscored that raids in the outer atolls are conducted at the behest of local councils. The primary grievance from these councils, according to him, concerns migrant workers engaging in daily wage labour independently. Some islands have also reported the presence of migrant workers who have entered illegally and are performing daily wage work, he added.

Matters concerning migrant workers in the outer islands fall under the jurisdiction of the local councils, according to the law. Mujthaba highlighted the necessity for local councils to vigilantly monitor the activities of migrant workers on their respective islands.

Mujthaba implored local councils to lend their full support and cooperation to Operation Kurangi, overseen by the homeland security ministry. The operation would equip authorities to distinguish between legal and undocumented migrant workers, as well as those participating in illegal business activities, he asserted.

Addressing the nation's concerns and issues related to undocumented migrant workers and their illegal business operations necessitates the support and cooperation of local councils, Mujthaba reiterated. "Migrant workers travelling to the outer atolls must only be granted entry to islands with the permission of local councils," he stated. "If the council maintains this protocol, there will be no migrant workers present on the islands who do not belong."

Mujthaba also underscored the critical importance of local councils in maintaining a registry of all migrant workers on their respective islands, including those who enter and exit. "Efforts will be facilitated if the local council supports Operation Kurangi and maintains a registry of migrant workers who enter and exit the island. Specifically, we can only conduct raids in response to complaints from the outer atolls with the support of local councils," he explained.

Maldives Immigration is currently in discussions with the Maldives Police Service (MPS) Marine Police to arrange the transportation of apprehended migrant workers from the outer atolls to the capital, Malé City. Once these logistical arrangements are finalised, the effectiveness of raid operations will be significantly enhanced, Mujthaba noted.