Immigration Controller Sham'aan cautions that action can be taken against Maldivians engaging expats to work illegally

Immigration Controller Mohamed Sham'aan has reminded that the law allows authorities to fine and take other strict action against Maldivians who engage expatriates to work illegally, and cautioned to refrain from such actions.

Sham'aan made these comments on a post made on social media X at this time when immigration and Police are collaborating on special operations to identify and detain foreigners working illegally in the country.

The operation has seen a large number of expatriates working against the law being detained from Male' and Hulhumale', but a widespread public concern is that although the expatriates themselves are taken action against, locals who facilitate and engage these expatriates in such work remain free of legal repercussions.

In response to these concerns, Sham'aan pointed out that Article 30 of the Immigration Act states that engaging foreigners without the necessary work permits in any work is against the law.

"As per Article 33(b) of that Act, Controller of Immigration has the authority to fine such persons up to MVR 50,000, and to have their passports held for a defined period," Sham'aan said.

"I call on everyone to abide by the Immigration Act and the regulations made under said Act," he said.

In the past week, Immigration has conducted two separate raids on two market areas in Male', with many who were illicitly running stalls having been detained from the locations.

June 29 saw a raid on the market on Ameenee Magu near PSM, and the market on Majeedhee Magu near Villa Mart. All expatriates working at both locations were taken into custody by Immigration. However, the stalls resumed business with other expatriates replacing those detained. Consequently, Immigration held a second raid, in which six additional expatriates were taken into detention.

As a result, the market on Majeedhee Magu has been shut down since last night, with no one left to run the stalls. However, locals came to take over operations of stalls in the Ameenee Magu market, and hence they remain open.

Immigration said that two locations in Hulhumale' Phase 1 had been raided last night, with four taken into detention. Last week, some expatriates selling takeaway coffee in Hulhumale' Phase 1 had also been detained by Immigration.

The Immigration Controller has said that expatriates working illegally and running businesses against the law in Maldives will be deported, including the individuals they had recently detained.

Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan has also asserted that the efforts will continue until a proper solution has been found for the issue.