Mayor of Male' Adam Azim has stated that there is no issue regarding expatriate workers at cafés and restaurants and has questioned as to why expatriate workers being employed at the Local Market is an issue.

During the General Meeting of the 5th Term of the Male' City Council, South Maafannu Constituency MP Ibrahim Labaan Shareef raised the issue of expatriate workers being employed at market stalls in Male'.

Regarding the matter, Mayor Azim said that there is a glaring issue where there is a lack of Maldivians who want to be employed at the market. The Mayor said that even when a Maldivian does get employed there, they go to work one day but do not show up the next day, and that it causes disruptions for the business.

And so, the Mayor said that an expatriate employee quota has been written up by the Ministry of Homeland Security, Labour & Technology, with them working at the market as such.

"Due to this, an expatriate employee quota has been sought by the Ministry of Homeland Security, Labour & Technology."

Azim said that he does not believe that there is no reason as to why expatriate workers cannot work at the Local Market.

Azim went on to say that there are expatriate workers at different industries across Maldives and that as that is the case, there is no reason why they cannot work at the Local Market.

"I do not see any reason as to why expatriate workers cannot work at the Local Market. There are expatriate workers in every corner of Maldives. Even then, the issue that is being raised is that expatriate workers are being employed at the Local Market."

"These workers are everywhere, from cafés and restaurants in Male', major resorts, construction companies and shops. So businesses have to employ expatriate workers if they cannot find local employees. The opportunity for them has opened up in such a way."

According to Azim, some people who go to buy produce at the Local Market have complained from time to time that expatriate workers are being employed there. However, Azim raised the question as to why no one is complaining about the expatriate workers being employees at cafés and restaurants.

"Some people who go there complain about this. However, why are they not complaining when it comes to cafés? About expatriate workers being employed at shops. About them being employed at resorts. About them being employed in construction. About them being employed as caretakers."

Azim said that in order to move forward fairly, employees needed to run the market should be available.

"The topic of the market is being discussed in a different manner. And so, it is my opinion that the most fair course of action is that employees who are needed to run the market are to be employed."

Regarding the matter, Labaan said that it is an issue because expatriates cannot legally work as cashiers at Local Market stalls.

In response, Azim said that it has become an issue in Male' where most shops have expatriate workers employed as cashiers. And that if the law is to be enforced, Azim said that the police, the council and the Trade Ministry need to work together to enforce it equally across all areas.

However, Azim stated that if it is implemented, it should be done in manner that work will not come to a stop and public services will not be disrupted.

"When it comes to implementation, the next issue that arises is the lack of employees. This is because Maldivians do not want to work in such positions. If it were possible to employ Maldivians, I do not think these businesses would employ expatriate workers."

Employing expatriate workers at the stalls in the Dhathuruveringe Market and the Local Market was not allowed in the past. The council has previously conducted searches on whether expatriate workers are employed in the stalls and have penalized the owners of the stalls.