The Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology, Ali Ihusaan has announced plans to implement a comprehensive tracking system for foreigners traveling within the Maldives upon completion of the Maldives 2.0 digitisation initiative.
Minister Ihusaan made these statements during an appearance on PSM News' Raajje Miadhu programme, outlining the government's multilayered approach to managing the foreign worker population and addressing the challenges posed by illegal immigration in the island nation.
According to Minister Ihusaan, the new system will enable authorities to identify and register all foreigners boarding and disembarking from vessels at each point of the transport network. This capability, he explained, will prove particularly valuable in emergency situations where passengers may go missing during maritime incidents.
"Sometimes people go missing on boat trips. There have been tragic incidents. If such incidents occur, the people who boarded the boat will be known with this system," the Minister explained, emphasising how the digitisation effort would enhance both security protocols and passenger safety measures across the archipelago.
The announcement forms part of a broader government strategy that encompasses both enforcement and administrative reforms. The Minister confirmed that authorities are actively working to deport undocumented immigrants while simultaneously improving the mechanisms for bringing foreign workers into the country through legitimate channels.
Complementing these efforts is the development of a "white" list of foreign employers, which will recognise companies that have maintained clean regulatory records and consistently fulfilled their fee obligations. Minister Ihusaan indicated that businesses meeting these criteria will receive expedited approval services through the digitised system, creating incentives for compliance and proper workplace practices.
The government has already initiated significant groundwork toward these objectives through Operation Kurangi, a nationwide operation designed to gather comprehensive information on the foreign worker population. A key component of this initiative involves establishing biometric registration systems at local councils throughout the country, enabling more accurate identification and documentation of all foreign nationals residing in the Maldives.
The Minister expressed confidence that these combined efforts would position Maldives among the world's leading countries in foreign worker management by the conclusion of the current governmental term.