Immigration Authorities to Crack Down on Illegal Employment of Expats
Immigration Controller Mohamed Sham’aan has stated that Maldivian law permits authorities to impose fines and take stringent action against locals who illegally employ expatriates. Sham’aan urged the public to refrain from such activities.
Sham’aan’s comments were made in a post on the social media platform X amid a joint operation by immigration and police to identify and detain foreigners working illegally in the country.
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The operation has resulted in numerous expatriates being detained in Malé and Hulhumalé. However, there is widespread public concern that while action is taken against the expatriates, locals who facilitate their illegal employment face no legal consequences.
Addressing these concerns, Sham’aan cited Article 30 of the Immigration Act, which states that employing foreigners without the necessary work permits is illegal.
In the past week, immigration authorities have conducted two separate raids on market areas in Malé, detaining many individuals running stalls illegally.
On 29 June, raids were conducted at the market on Ameenee Magu near PSM and the market on Majeedhee Magu near Villa Mart. All expatriates working at these locations were detained. However, the stalls quickly resumed operations with new expatriate workers. This prompted a second raid, during which six more expatriates were detained.
As a result, the market on Majeedhee Magu has remained closed, while locals have taken over the stalls at the Ameenee Magu market, keeping it open.
Additionally, two locations in Hulhumalé Phase 1 were raided last night, with four individuals detained. Last week, expatriates selling takeaway coffee in Hulhumalé Phase 1 were also detained.
Sham’aan has reiterated that expatriates working illegally and running businesses against the law will be deported, including those recently detained.
Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan has affirmed that efforts will continue until a solution is found for the issue.
