Minister Identifies Human Trafficking as Key Driver of Migrant Worker Surge

Human trafficking is one of the root causes of migrant workers population surge in the country, Minister of Homeland Security Ali Ihusaan has said.

Minister Ihusaan said organised syndicates involved in the human trafficking “business” contributed to the large number of undocumented migrant workers living in the country.

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He made these remarks while addressing a press conference yesterday during which the ministry shared updates of ‘Operation Kurengi’ — a government initiative to collect biometric data of all migrant workers in the country.

Information of over 600 migrant workers have been collected since the operation began in May 2. The government will carry the operation nationwide and plans to collect the photograph and fingerprints of all migrant workers in the country.

The data will be collated into a database and will be used via a mobile application to identify unknown migrant workers in any island.

Minister Ihusaan acknowledged the intricate nature of the problem, highlighting that solely targeting migrant workers would not suffice.

“The problem is not just migrant workers violating the law. One of the root causes of this problem is Maldivians who are working in organised syndicates to bring in foreigners, making them pay large sums of money and then kicks them out to the streets.”

Additionally, he identified the issue of employers withholding wages, thereby coercing workers into precarious situations

Minister Ihusaan pledged to fortify regulations and enforcement to combat illegal human trafficking activities. Minister Ihusaan underscored that foreigners engaged in such illicit practices would face immediate arrest and deportation. Furthermore, authorities will conduct thorough investigations into companies and individuals implicated in human trafficking operations.

“I request everyone who’s doing it to move away from this. Because this is a big, dangerous problem to the country even if it can personally give you temporary benefits. It’s a big injustice against another human being, to deceive a foreigner who is usually working class person coming to work here with a lot of big dreams.”

Meanwhile, the State Minister Ahmed Sideeq said the Operation Kurengi is an opportunity for undocumented workers to move within the law through a regularisation programme, describing it as an “olive branch to those living here illegally.”

“This programme is an olive branch, a hand offered in peace to those living illegally. No one will be arrested in this programme. Even if it is a person living here illegally, we will take their photo and fingerprint and let them go.

“If we interact with someone living here illegally, if they have a work permit and if there’s someone who wants them, they will have the chance for regularisation under this programme.”