Maldives Immigration has deported the 21 expatriates who had been detained following strikes and demonstrations at K. Bolidhuffaru, raising concerns about delayed salary payments, substandard welfare conditions and difficulties in remitting their pay home. 

Police initially took the protesters into custody, and subsequently handed them over to the care of Maldives Immigration. 

An official from Maldives Immigration stated today that the expatriates had been taken into their custody on October 30. They said that the expatriates had been detained for refusing to follow legal orders.

The official asserted that action taken against these expatriates are in line with Immigration Laws, under which they have been deported. 

The 21 expatriates were deported individually over the past days after they were transferred to Immigration custody on October 30, the official said. 

Dubai's DAMAC Properties is developing a resort on 34 hectares of reclaimed land in the Bolidhuffaru lagoon. The project's construction work is contracted to local company Aima Construction. 

While the expatriates have now been deported, rights advocacy groups including Transparency Maldives voiced concerns following their initial arrest, arguing that detaining or taking other retaliatory action against workers for participating in labour protests undermines their fundamental rights.