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LRA investigates 1,000 expats working illegally at a resort

Fathmath Shaahunaz
24 December 2018, MVT 14:43
Expatriate workers at a construction site. PHOTO/MIHAARU
Fathmath Shaahunaz
24 December 2018, MVT 14:43

Labour Relations Authority (LRA) has launched an investigation into over 1,000 expatriates working illegally at a resort currently in development.

At a press conference, LRA's Information Officer Ali Shareef stated that the authority is working to find the Maldivians responsible for bringing in the expat workers in question.

While the authority did not disclose the name of the resort as the investigation is currently ongoing, Shareef stated that the people in-charge had attempted to conceal the illegal expats from the authorities.

According to Shareef, the resort had handed over the details of only 1,400 expatriates employed in the resort development project, leaving out another 1,000 workers.

"Our office in Male' brought in [the resort's] Operations Manager, and when we finally acquired all the information and passports, there were 2,447 [working at the resort]," he said, adding that LRA has to separately acquire the information of all the expats working illegally at the resort before taking action.

Shareef shared that the issue of illegally working expatriates came to LRA's attention during inspections carried out at 30 resorts this year.

LRA stressed that Maldivians who bring in expatriates have to bear responsibility for them. While the authority holds the power to take administrative action against expats working illegally in Maldives such as penalising or blacklisting them, the authority also penalises locals that illegally employ expat workers.

LRA added that it was working to tally the total number of expatriates working illegally in the country.

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