Amending law to fine employers MVR 50,000 if negligent towards expat staff

An amendment has been proposed to the Employment Act to levy a fine of MVR 50,000 against employers who are negligent towards expatriate workers.

The amendment, proposed by the Government, states that if an employer is negligent towards an expatriate after bringing them to the Maldives, then the concerned authorities should take action against them.

The names of such employers are to be publicized, they are to be fined MVR 50,000 and their permits to bring in expatriate workers will be suspended for a set period of time, the bill says.

Four instances of negligence are defined in the bill. They are;

1. Failure to pay salaries

2. Failure to fulfill basic duties as defined by a regulation made under this law

3. Exploitation when bringing in expatriates, or forcing them to do unlawful activities

4. Making expatriates work in a different job than they were brought for

The bill further grants the authority to related agencies to inspect illegal establishments without prior notice, seek information from expatriate workers, and other such actions.

It further defines the guidelines for issuing quotas and work permits.

Over the past two months, Maldives Immigration, in collaboration with Police, have been conducting raids to identify expatriates working or living illegally in the Maldives. In this period, approximately 200 expatriates have been detained and placed on the list of those to be deported. Over 2000 expatriates have been deported in the past eight months.