Work permit cancellations allowed if fines paid later

The Home Ministry today decided to allow the cancellation of work permits with outstanding fees, provided the employer agrees to settle the expatriate workers' fines and fees later.

In an announcement made by the Ministry, it stated that this change was introduced to provide more flexibility and ease for employers in managing the work permits and employee records of expatriates working in the Maldives.

With this new change, the Ministry's announcement confirms that starting today, work permits can be cancelled without the immediate payment of associated fees and fines, as long as the employer agrees through the Expat System to pay and clear all outstanding dues later.

The Ministry noted that the quota slot for any cancelled work permit will only be released after all fees and fines associated with that specific permit have been fully paid and cleared.

The government is also currently running a special operation named "Kuran'gi" to locate expatriates residing in the Maldives without proper documentation. This operation involves collecting biometric and other data from expatriates. The government has decided to take action, including deportation, against expatriates who fail to provide their biometrics.

The Home Ministry announced last Thursday that 27,773 expatriates have not yet provided their biometric information to the Ministry, and anyone failing to do so without a justifiable reason before the 15th of next month will be deported.

According to the Home Ministry's announcement, records as of last Thursday show that 27,773 expatriates under the supervision of 3,942 registered employers in the Expat Online System have not updated their biometrics.

The Home Ministry further warned that all expatriates who fail to update their biometric information without a justifiable reason before November 15th will be deported. Additionally, the registered employers in the Expat Online System will be penalized with a fine of MVR 50,000 under the Employment Act and face action under the Immigration Act.