Gov’t Warns Expatriate Taxi Drivers of Regulatory Breach Consequences

The Transport Ministry has issued a stern warning of repercussions for expatriates found operating taxis in contravention of regulations.

The ministry reiterated that only foreign nationals holding a resident visa and married to a Maldivian citizen are authorised to drive taxis. It emphasised that individuals falling outside this category are expressly prohibited from participating in the taxi trade.

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Those expatriates found driving taxis without proper authorisation will face fines amounting to MVR 500, while individuals involved in the private hire sector will incur a steeper penalty of MVR 750.

Emergency discussions were convened on Tuesday by various state bodies, including the Maldives Airport Company Limited (MACL), the Transport Ministry, and law enforcement agencies, aimed at formulating a strategy to regulate taxi operations at Velana International Airport (VIA), the nation’s primary air hub.

The impetus for these discussions stemmed from a surge in complaints regarding taxi services at the airport, with reports of drivers flouting regulations. Complaints included instances of drivers refusing to serve specific destinations, accepting additional passengers, and charging fares in excess of those stipulated by the ministry.

In response to these concerns, the ministry has introduced a QR code system to facilitate the submission of complaints and established a committee tasked with reviewing reported issues.