Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology has announced that companies are now granted a third opportunity to settle overdue fees and fines related to expatriate workers, even if through drafting a payment plan.
Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology has announced that companies are now granted a third opportunity to settle overdue fees and fines related to expatriate workers, even if through drafting a payment plan.
Initially, the ministry announced that these overdue fees must be settled by August 12. This was later extended till August 24.
In an announcement released yesterday, the ministry said that companies who owe less than MVR 100,000 in fees and fines must settle the payments before September 16. Names of those who do not comply will be publicly disclosed, and services for them suspended via the expat system.
The ministry revealed that they have been receiving complaints from some companies about difficulties in settling large fees and fines in a single payment. Hence, the ministry stated that opportunities will be granted via the expat system to enter an agreement for repayment within a specified period of time.
While 139,000 work permits have been issued in the Maldives, only 36 percent of employers pay the related fees on schedule, Minister Ali Ihusan has previously said.
The cabinet has also decided to compile and publish a list of companies that have been negligent towards expatriate workers after bringing them into the country. Earlier, the Homeland Security Ministry published a list of companies with pending fees and fines related to expatriate work permits and quota.