Expat rules amended to permit foreign babysitters

The changes to the expatriate employment regulations brought this week, banning foreign employment for several jobs including nurses, beauticians, teachers and accountants has been revised once again, now removing baby sitters from the list. 

When the regulation was initially amended, baby sitters were included amongst jobs for which quotas will be cancelled, and no new quotas issued after two years.

Many criticized this move, stating that baby sitting is not a skilled job. 

In response, the ministry removed baby sitters from the list and republished the revised regulation in today's government gazette.

With this change, jobs for which quotas will be cancelled, and no new quotas issued after two years are:

Jobs for which quotas will be cancelled after three years:

Jobs for which quotas will be cancelled after four years:

Jobs for which quotas will be cancelled after five years:

The government has deported a high number of expatriates under its efforts to identify and take action against expatriates living and working illegally in the country. At present, authorities are working to identify and shut down illegal businesses being operated by expatriates.

Biometric data has also been collected of all expatriates in Maldives. Under this, biometric data has now been obtained of 191,723 expatriates, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said earlier this month. Any expatriates found to have not provided this data by now will be deported, he said.