Markets reopened, expats still running stalls

Two markets, which were closed last Saturday after Maldives Immigration detained foreigners operating stalls there in a special raid operation to track down expatriates running businesses unlawfully, have reopened with expats manning the stalls yet again.

The market near Villa Mart on Majeedhee magu and the other near Television Maldives (TVM) on Ameenee Magu were entirely shut down on the night of 29th June after almost all of the expatriates working there were taken into custody. With that, both markets were officially closed by around 20:00 hrs that night and remained closed for the next 2-3 days.

However, local reports say that the markets are back up and running, with expatriates still running the show, which according to the Business Registration Act (Act no. 18/2014) of Maldives, is prohibited.

According to the law, foreigners are not allowed to run businesses "engaged in any retail trade or any type of small business conducted by Maldivians in any part of the Maldives."

However, in these markets, expatriates are the ones who are running the cash registers. However, local media suggests the expatriates at the stalls now have replaced the ones who were detained in the raid.

With many stalls reopened, these reports suggest that there are no locals at any of the stalls.

"There was a raid a few days back, no? That's why those stalls are closed," a Bangladeshi national running one of the stalls responded when asked why some stalls remain closed.

"There are no people. That's why they're closed."

Maldives Immigration also took into custody about 50 expatriates from the government run local market last week.

Following the operation that day, Immigration Controller Mohamed Shamman said that the agency has identified expatriates who were running their own businesses unlawfully from those who were detained that day.

"And these individuals will be deported from the country within the regulations," he added.

In Immigration's efforts to crack down on undocumented expatriates, the agency apprehended eight foreigners last Friday night from a takeaway coffee shop in Phase 1 of Hulhumalé.

Another two individuals involved in sale of dollars on the blackmarket were taken into custody last week as well.

Controller Shamman said last night that the government's aim is to identify expatriates who are in the small and medium business sector unlawfully.

"We are working as per President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's pledge to find a quick solution for the problem faced by locals," Shamman said, assuring expatriates who are found to be engaging in unlawful activities would have necessary measures taken against them as per the law.

Shamman also confirmed that Immigration will continue with these raids.