Gov’t Seeks Permanent Male’ Base for Trafficking Victim Services

The Ministry of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology is moving to open a permanent support hub in the capital to aid victims of human trafficking.

Speaking on Public Service Media’s Raajje Miadhu broadcast, Minister of State Dr Abdulla Phairoosch revealed that officials are identifying potential locations in Male’. The planned facility will house emergency shelter, medical treatment, psychological support, and legal help within one integrated complex.

The government currently houses victims and takes statements across temporary sites in Gulhifalhu and Himmafushi, along with leased guesthouses in the capital. State Minister Phairoosch noted that operating across multiple locations outside Male’ creates severe operational bottlenecks, reinforcing the need for a dedicated central base.

“Recently, what we have been doing is keeping them in a guesthouse or a rented space in Male’ to provide the necessary assistance or record statements,” Dr Phairoosch stated. “We are now working on identifying ways to establish a permanent setup in Male’. However, these are not things that can be done so easily.”

The planned hub aims to tackle systemic abuse targeting foreign workers across the country, where wage theft, passport confiscation, and unsafe working environments remain widespread.

Dr Phairoosch also detailed the hurdles authorities encounter when attempting to build cases against perpetrators. Gathering physical evidence proves difficult, particularly when exploited workers opt to return home rather than undergo legal proceedings once they receive back pay.

“As soon as they receive their salary, they no longer wish to pursue the case. The foreign worker simply wants to return to their home country quickly, or escape the situation,” Dr Phairoosch said. “Because of this, it becomes difficult to take legal action against those involved in the crime.”

To resolve these evidentiary gaps, the ministry is studying frameworks to secure convictions using secondary physical and administrative evidence, reducing the reliance on victim testimony.

Planning and preliminary research for the Male’ centre are currently under way.