Rasheed Carpentry and Construction (RCC) Pvt Ltd filed a case with Maldives Police Service (MPS), against private telegram channel MvCrisis, overspreading false information about the company's employees.
MvCrisis, which touts itself as a news medium and also has a presence on Twitter and Facebook, posted pictures of RCC's expatriate workers gathered on the road, claiming that they were out protesting similar to the migrants that have recently led demonstrations over being forced to work without pay.
Former Minister of Defence and RCC' Chairman Mohamed Nazim told local media Mihaaru that the company employees were photographed whilst in-queue outside a studio, to have their picture taken for their work visa cards.
He clarified that the matter was reported to the police on Monday night, to combat the spread of misinformation which may spark fear within the community as well as tarnish the company's reputation.
"This is a lowly act carried out to defame the company in these times. Therefore, the case was filed to press charges against them [MvCrisis]", Nazim, who also represents Alif Dhaalu Atoll's Dhangethi constituency in the Parliament, said.
On July 2, over 200 expatriate workers on Bodufinolhu, Baa Atoll, held locals hostage, damaged property and rioted over being forced to work without pay for months.
Following the incident, Seal Maldives, the company developing Bodufinolhu into a luxury resort, levied strong accusations against RIX Maldives Pvt Ltd, contracted with construction work on the island. The latter company is owned by the parliamentary representative for Shaviyani Atoll's Milandhoo constituency, Ali Riza.
Expatriate workers employed by Island Expert Pvt Ltd, to construct flats, presently being built in the reclaimed suburb of Hulhumale, for Maldives Police Service (MPS) and Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) personnel, also staged demonstrations on Monday, over delays in their salary payments.
These expat-led demonstrations take place amid renewed concerns from rights groups as well as the general public, over the continued exploitation of expatriate workers in Maldives.
Violations reported include that of including human trafficking, withholding of wages, poor living conditions, and other human rights violations. Further, the aforementioned low quality of life has cemented the disproportionate effect had by Maldives' ongoing COVID19 outbreak on its vast migrant population.
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