Left-wing political movement 'Navaanavai', on Saturday, demanded the Prosecutor General's Office to drop the charges against the 19 expatriate workers arrested from Bodufinolhu, Baa Atoll following a hostage situation and protests over unpaid salaries.
The 19 expatriates in question were taken into custody under accusations of being involved in the unrest that erupted on Bodufinolhu last Thursday.
It is clear that the incident at Bodufinolhu was a direct result of modern day slavery that continues with impunity due to government inaction to prosecute human traffickers and employers complicit in the process.
— ނަވާނަވައި (@navaanavai) July 4, 2020
2/5
In a press statement, Navaanavai called on authorities to halt forced deportation of migrants and facilitate their return to employment under safe and dignified conditions.
They added that the "government’s policy of detaining and deportation of migrants who protest against wage theft and exploitation is an outrageous violation of their basic human rights".
"Justice should always be a process of healing, rather than a drive to convict and punish. Migrant workers, especially Bangladeshi labourers have been suffering immensely in this country even before the COVID-19 pandemic", read the statement.
Over 200 expatriate workers had launched protests and held hostage 13 Maldivian staff on Bodufinolhu, over their employer's failure to pay six months of salary.
We are analysing the information we acquired today to build a case to ensure the rights of the workers.
— Public Interest Law Centre (@pilcmv) July 4, 2020
We would like to thank @PoliceMv for facilitating access to the island and the High Commision of Bangladesh for providing translation services.
According to the police, a number of officers were injured during the initial attempts to make landfall on Thursday evening, when the expatriate workers prevented them from reaching the island by throwing stones and metal rods from the harbour.
The police's Public Order Response Team later successfully reached the island in the early hours of Friday, and completed the operation without further clashes. Police noted that following negotiations, the expatriate workers agreed to cooperate peacefully.
If the existing laws can not provide remedies, then CHANGE THE LAWS!
— Ib Nawaf (@ib_nawaf) July 3, 2020
Expatriate workers are humans too, with families and loved ones they have to look after. You cant just smuggle them into Maldives, work them to death with no wages, and then get them deported when you’re done.
Meanwhile, the workers' employer RIX Maldives and Seal Maldives, which had contracted the former for the resort construction, have released conflicting statements regarding the unpaid wages of the expatriate staff, placing the blame of the expatriates' unpaid salaries on each other. RIX is owned by the parliamentary representative for Shaviyani Atoll's Milandhoo constituency, Ali Riza.
Foreign RIX employees had also staged a silent protest on May 16, demanding full payment and clearance to leave Maldives for their respective home countries.
2 month back @ bodufinolhu. They did protest peacefully. Listen carefully. pic.twitter.com/2cpcdcvSdO
— αհʍεδ ɾαςհεεδ (@rashydahmed) July 3, 2020
This issue comes amidst concerns which have long been raised by rights groups and the public over the exploitation of expatriate workers in Maldives, including human trafficking, withholding of wages, poor living conditions, and other human rights violations.
Navaanavai previously established a hotline for workers facing redundancy, pay cuts and unfair treatment amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The movement which advocates for social justice, urged workers to call +960 9477309 and register any such complaints.
Sign In
