Some 139,000 work permits have been issued to expatriates to work in the Maldives; however, while 50 percent do make payments, only 36 percent of employers pay regularly, said Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan.
The 36 percent accounts for about 40,000 expats and it is concerning why 64 percent do not pay work permit fees regularly, Ihusaan said.
One of the reasons for non-payment is due to the liquidation of companies, according to the minister. The other reason is that the work permit holder’s legal status is questionable and as such they do not want to pay because of lack of earnings. Ihusaan added that 90,624 Bangladeshis are in Maldives to work and he is also working to ascertain the number of people who are in compliance with the law.
Ihusaan stated that it is easy for expatriate workers to circumvent the law, and, therefore, the ministry is working to clarify the details of foreigners in the Maldives. Biometric information, along with other details of such individuals, will be obtained so that they can be identified easily, the minister added.
