The Minister of State for Homeland Security, Labour and Technology, Dr Abdulla Phairoosch, has emphasised that increasing public and institutional awareness is critical to the effective enforcement of laws related to human trafficking.
Speaking at a special workshop organised by the Ministry of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology to mark the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, State Minister Phairoosch highlighted that identifying gaps in legal implementation remains a top priority.
The workshop served as a platform for relevant agencies to collaborate on the Maldives Anti-Human Trafficking Strategic Plan, a long-term national framework designed to combat trafficking in persons through prevention, victim protection, and rigorous investigation. This year’s global theme, "Trapped Behind the Scam," focuses on the alarming rise of victims being trafficked into online scam compounds through the misuse of digital tools.
While State Minister Phairoosch noted that no such cases have been recorded in the Maldives yet, he warned that the prevalence of these crimes globally, combined with the local rise in digital scams, necessitates immediate preemptive action.
"I would like to ask the various relevant agencies... not only to consider the Human Trafficking Act as the only thing that exists, but also to consider broader issues," he said, stressing that the new strategic plan is designed to be comprehensive.
The Ministry has recently overhauled its approach to labour migration by bringing immigration, labour governance, inspections, and law enforcement under a single unified framework. State Minister Phairoosch explained that the National Strategic Plan incorporates feedback and rankings from international agencies, addressing various issues identified over the last two years—specifically the lack of awareness regarding existing legal provisions.
The State Minister underscored that the government cannot tackle this issue in isolation. A successful fight against human trafficking requires a whole-of-society approach, involving full cooperation from employers, civil society organisations, and the general public to build systems that stop exploitation before it begins, he added.