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A walk-in interview held by Maldives Immigration on Saturday has sparked public backlash, with critics pointing to rising youth unemployment and the treatment of job seekers.
The recruitment drive, aimed at hiring 50 immigration officers, drew hundreds of applicants, a turnout many said reflected the country’s deepening jobs crisis.
Social media users condemned the public sharing of photos and videos of the queues, calling it insensitive.
"Immigration proudly showing off seven job openings while queues stretch down the street... and them and the media are posting pics and videos of this desperation. This isn't opportunity, it's a shameful display of our unemployment crisis," wrote one user on X.
Others questioned the ethics of posting images of job seekers online, raising privacy concerns and accusing the authorities of turning economic hardship into a PR moment.
Miduaam Saud, a vocal commentator on youth issues, said around 900 people showed up to apply for roles offering a monthly salary of MVR 10,500.
“I am happy to see so many young people trying to earn honest money in a corrupt system, where doing nothing in a political post gets you three or four times that pay,” he posted on X.
Criticism also focused on how the interviews were conducted. Many questioned why, in the digital era, applicants were made to queue outside Galolhu Madharusaa instead of being offered digital registration or time slots.
Several social media users argued that the sheer number of applicants for so few positions highlighted a lack of meaningful employment opportunities, particularly for educated youth.
In addition to the increase in unemployment among the educated youth, the critics pointed out issues in the government's economic policy.
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