Maldives Immigration is gearing up to tackle the threat
In international circles, references to the “security of Maldives” are primarily about threats to the independence of the Indian Ocean archipelago from outside powers seeking either geopolitical advantage or hegemony.
Depending upon which side of the geopolitical divide one is on, the threat is either from South Asian hegemon India or from the aspiring hegemon, China. In the eyes of Western nations, particularly the United States, religious radicalism and terrorism are other threats to the Maldives and the world at large. However, the threat of religious extremism is largely imagined, conjured up to justify intervention in the Maldives to establish geopolitical dominance.
Be that as it may, Maldivian security is impacted more by illegal immigration than by the geopolitical competition and conflict surrounding it.
According to the United Nations, the Maldives has the largest proportional population of migrants in South Asia, with an estimated 200,000 to 250,000 international migrants, making up roughly a third of the resident population.
Inbound labour migrants from neighbouring South Asian countries, especially lower-skilled workers from Bangladesh and India, are major contributors to the economic development of the Maldives, supplying the workforce needed for key economic sectors like tourism and hospitality, construction, agriculture and fisheries, and services. Higher-skilled workers are employed in the education and health sectors, filling essential labour market gaps.
Illegal Migrations
The problem for the Maldives is not with legal migrants but with illegal or undocumented ones. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in 2019, there were about 63,000 undocumented migrants in the Maldives.
As part of a regularisation initiative, the government has managed to partially register over 40,000 previously undocumented migrants (the verification process is ongoing).
Migrant workers have been undocumented for several reasons, chiefly due to human trafficking. Trafficked workers are hidden from the authorities in ingenious ways because there is substantial money in it for traffickers and employers. For financial gain, undocumented workers are subjected to exploitation, forced labour, withholding or non-payment of wages, and debt bondage.
This problem had been so severe that the Maldives was placed on the ‘Tier 2 Watchlist’ in the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report for three consecutive years from 2018 to 2020.
Against this background, the Maldives endorsed the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM) as a multilateral framework that complements national efforts.
The Maldives has prioritised strengthening its border security, recognising it as a critical issue for an island nation with a thriving tourism industry.
In recent months, significant strides have been made in enhancing border security and enforcing immigration policies. A focus on efficiency, security, and modernisation has enabled the Maldives to better manage its borders, ensuring national safety and stability.
These efforts highlight a proactive approach towards addressing immigration challenges while also promoting a secure, non-intrusive, and welcoming environment for tourists.
With a population of just over 500,000, the Maldives becomes a temporary sojourn for up to 2 million tourists annually, whose welfare and security must be assured by the government.
The Maldives has introduced advanced surveillance technologies at international airports and seaports, improving the detection of unauthorised entries and enhancing the tracking of individuals with criminal records.
Additionally, immigration authorities have collaborated closely with other law enforcement agencies to establish a coordinated approach to national security. This collaboration has led to a significant reduction in incidents related to illegal immigration, with faster response times and improved situational awareness across entry points.
The agency has launched several initiatives to streamline immigration processes. These include implementing electronic visa systems, expediting tourist entry procedures, and expanding digital services for work permits and renewals, which have improved the experience for both tourists and expatriates.
These advancements have reduced the processing time and alleviated administrative burdens on immigration staff, allowing them to focus more on enforcement and monitoring.
The introduction of digital tools has also facilitated data sharing between immigration and other government departments, further enhancing security and enabling data-driven decision-making.
Enhanced Training
To ensure that immigration officers are well-equipped to handle evolving security challenges, Maldives Immigration emphasises specialised training and capacity-building programmes. Officers have received enhanced training in areas such as document verification, threat detection, and passenger profiling.
Thanks to professional development, the immigration department’s workforce is now skilled, vigilant, and able to detect irregularities and handle sensitive situations effectively and with finesse.
Human Trafficking
A core focus of the Maldives’ immigration strategy has been combating human trafficking and smuggling. Through joint efforts with international agencies and local law enforcement, Maldives Immigration has successfully dismantled several trafficking networks and prevented numerous cases of illegal smuggling.
Improved data analytics and intelligence sharing have been instrumental in this success, allowing authorities to track suspicious movements and identify patterns in trafficking activities.
The agency also advocates for stronger legal frameworks to prosecute traffickers and smugglers, sending a clear message that these illegal activities will not be tolerated. This approach is combined with due regard for human rights and the protection of vulnerable individuals from exploitation.
Oversight of Foreign Labour
With the Maldives’ growing reliance on expatriate workers in sectors such as construction and tourism, maintaining oversight of foreign labour has become a priority. The administration has introduced stricter regulations to ensure the fair treatment of expatriate workers while also ensuring that their entry and employment are lawful.
By enforcing work permit regulations and conducting regular audits, Maldives Immigration has been able to prevent instances of illegal employment and unauthorised entries, contributing to better-organised labour markets and safer working conditions for expatriates.
Illegal Migrants Deported
From 17 November 2023, until now, over 4,300 expatriates have been deported. The government aims to deport 5,000 expatriates living and working illegally in the country within a year, Maldives Immigration revealed to the media recently.
Senior immigration officials says that the deportation of expatriates running illegal businesses in the country often leads to serious threats. However, they asserted that Maldives Immigration would remain steadfast in its work and not compromise border security in the face of any such coercion.