Maldives Adopts Three-Year Roadmap to Strengthen Anti-Trafficking Efforts

The Maldives has launched a three-year strategic plan to strengthen efforts against human trafficking and labour exploitation, with the government targeting trafficking networks, forced labour and deceptive recruitment practices.

The Ministry of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology announced the plan in a statement marking World Day Against Trafficking in Persons today. 

advertisement

The Maldives Anti-Human Trafficking Strategic Plan 2026–2028, published by the government, establishes an operational framework covering migration management, employment oversight and law enforcement. 

The strategy is built around six areas: governance and legal reform, integrated enforcement, national security integration, preventative awareness, local governance partnerships, and victim protection and accountability.

މީހުން ޓްރެފިކްކުރުމާ ދެކޮޅަށް މަސައްކަތްކުރާ ބައިނަލްއަޤްވާމީ ދުވަސް 2026 ގެ މުނާސަބަތުގައި މިނިސްޓްރީ އޮފް ހޯމްލޭންޑް ސެކިއުރިޓީ، ލޭބަރ އެންޑް ޓެކްނޮލޮޖީގެ ބަޔާން pic.twitter.com/5lMCeLekn6— Ministry of Homeland Security, Labour & Technology (@HomeMinistrymv) July 30, 2026

Under the plan, the government intends to align legal definitions of human trafficking, debt bondage and forced labour with international standards.

The strategy also calls for strengthened coordination between agencies through an inter-agency Operational Working Group under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Office (ATO). The group will coordinate investigations, intelligence sharing and inspections across the atolls.

The government will also incorporate counter-trafficking operations into its national security framework and expand awareness programmes to educate foreign workers about their rights and recruitment risks before and after arriving in the Maldives.

Island councils are expected to play a greater role in monitoring and enforcement at the local level, while measures will also be introduced to improve the identification and protection of trafficking victims.

The ministry said trafficking networks are increasingly using digital platforms, fake job offers and online scams to target vulnerable foreign workers.

The government has also identified forced labour and illegal recruitment as national security concerns rather than solely administrative labour violations.

The strategy follows recent government reforms that brought labour regulation, border control and law enforcement functions under the Homeland Security portfolio.

The government said progress under the three-year plan will be assessed through annual milestone evaluations to monitor implementation and measure progress in tackling human trafficking and exploitation.