The current Employment Act sets a limit of 100,000 expatriate workers from a single country. If this number is exceeded, the total expatriates in the country must be reduced.
Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan said that the government will retain a cap on the number of expatriate workers, while amending the Employment Act to allow flexibility in determining the maximum number of expatriate workers allowed in the Maldives.
The current Employment Act sets a limit of 100,000 expatriate workers from a single country. If this number is exceeded, the total expatriates from the country must be reduced.
However, a recent amendment proposed that the number of expatriates and the specific fields they can work in will be regulated through guidelines under the Employment Act, based the advice of the Cabinet following regarding the impact on the local labor market.
Minister Ihusaan said that demand for expatriate workers varies, particularly with upcoming projects such as the reclamation of RasMale', Gulhi Falhu, Thilafushi, and Uthuru Thila Falhu, as well as the new terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA), and new resort constructions.
He highlighted the need for foreign labor in these development projects due to insufficient locals willing to work as laborers.
The minister highlighted concerns about the increase in undocumented workers and increased expatriates working in unauthorized employment sectors.
"The government's stand is to ensure that all foreign workers are brought within the legal framework, and that the total number is adjusted based on the labor demand at any given time, whether it be 100,000, 110,000 or 120,000 expatriates," Ihusaan said.
The government previously halted bringing Bangladeshi workers due to their numbers exceeding the 100,000 cap, following which the government opted to bring Indian workers. However, this decision has been reversed, allowing Bangladeshi workers to be brought into the country again.
Minister Ihusaan emphasized that the ultimate goal is to ensure expatriate workers are compliant with the law and to reassess the effectiveness of the current 100,000 limit once these measures are in place.
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