Ministry Tightens Policy on Releasing Revoked Work Permit Quotas
Photo: Maldives Immigration
The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology has announced that quota slots for work permits revoked due to unpaid foreign worker fees and penalties will only be reinstated after all outstanding dues are fully settled.
Previously, employers were allowed to pay overdue fees in instalments under concessionary agreements. However, the Ministry has now implemented stricter measures, cancelling work permits for employers who have failed to clear their payments. These permits may only be reinstated once the associated fees and penalties are fully paid through the Expat System.
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According to the Ministry, a total of 68,000 employers are registered on the Expat Portal, but only 7,900 are making regular payments. More than 8,000 employers have been suspended from the system for failing to meet their financial obligations.
The government has so far recovered USD 77.8 million of the USD 110.23 million owed in foreign worker fees. The Ministry stated that it continues to strengthen efforts to collect data on expatriate workers and resolve related administrative issues.
As part of these efforts, biometric data has been collected from over 177,000 foreign nationals currently residing in the Maldives.
