President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has ratified the eighth amendment to the Maldives Employment Act, granting the relevant ministry the authority over the number of foreign labourers allowed into the Maldives. The amendment, introduced by Parliamentarian Mohamed Dawood on behalf of the government, proposed to change the previous limit of 100,000 workers per country. The amendment was passed by Parliament on September 1.
The bill stipulates that foreigners are only permitted to work in the Maldives if they have acquired authorisation in accordance with the Maldives Employment Act and its related regulations. It outlines the penalties for not complying with these requirements and specifies the maximum number of foreigners allowed and identifies the specific sectors or areas where they are permitted to work. These amendments will establish different criteria based on industry, occupation, and skill levels to determine the allocation of foreign workers throughout the year.
Additionally, the amendment mandates to assess the impact of foreign employment on the labour market of the Maldives. The factors to be considered include the unavailability of local workers for critical jobs, the potential negative effects on specific sectors due to a lack of local workforce, and national security implications.
The amendment to the Act has established and detailed the obligations imposed on employers for the recruitment of foreigners in the Maldives. This includes the registration of the workplace where the foreigners will be employed, the acquisition of necessary permissions, securing the appropriate quota for foreigners, and obtaining a valid work permit. The registration of the workplace can of an expatriate can only be changes in accordance with a guideline created under the Act. The amendment also specifies the procedures for addressing violations by those found to exhibit insensitivity towards foreigners. It gives the authority inspectors the authority to enter worksites without prior notice to detect illegal immigrants, although they must obtain permission before entering residential properties.
Moreover, the ministry responsible for foreign workers will have the power to address illegal foreign employment by closing worksites, imposing fines, and revoking permits under the Immigration Act. The amendment will also introduce penalties for those who fail to comply with the new regulations, including publicising the names of negligent parties, imposing fines of USD 324 per employee and suspending services for repeated violations. These responsibilities will be carried out by the Ministry of Defence.
Upon the ratification of the bill by President Dr. Muizzu, amendments to the regulations formulated under this Act shall be drafted and published in the Government Gazette within three months from the Act's commencement date.