Maldives Immigration investigated over 1,000 cases reported via the 'Immigration Watch' portal, since its launch on 17 July 2024, the agency has revealed. The portal allows individuals to report immigration or border-related offences online, enhancing the monitoring and enforcement of immigration laws.
According to Maldives Immigration, a total of 1,061 cases were reported from the launch until the end of December 2023. The majority of the reported cases, totalling 239, pertained to migrant workers engaging in illegal business activities. This crackdown on illegal businesses forms part of a broader, ongoing initiative to ensure that certain sectors—including the operation of cafés, restaurants, and bakeries—remain restricted to migrant workers.
In addition to the 239 cases of illegal business operations, the portal also received an equal number of reports pertaining to work visa violations. The portal documented 65 cases related to prostitution rings, 41 instances of migrant workers absconding from their sponsoring company, 14 concerning tourist visa violations, and 12 each related to violations of employer sponsorship and illegal visa usage, according to the authority.
The immigration authority also investigated 11 cases, each involving various criminal activities and drug abuse by migrant workers, and 10 cases of illegal business operations. Eight locations were found to be in violation of health and safety standards, the authority said. The portal also recorded seven cases of human trafficking and an additional seven cases involving the illegal exchange of foreign currency on the black market.
In an effort to combat the widespread issue of undocumented migrant workers, Maldives Immigration, in collaboration with relevant agencies, has established a special task force dedicated to addressing this issue and curbing illegal activities. Over the past year, this initiative has yielded significant achievements.
The immigration authority is also extending its operations to the outer atolls in a bid to identify undocumented migrant workers. While a regularisation programme has been implemented, enabling these workers to achieve legal status, this programme represents one of the most significant initiatives currently undertaken by Maldives Immigration to address the issue of undocumented migrant workers, according to the authority.
The administration of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu is placing particular emphasis on addressing issues related to both undocumented and other migrant workers. As part of this initiative, Maldives Immigration and the dedicated task force are actively collecting information and data on all migrant workers across the country, including those in the capital Malé, outer islands, tourist resorts, and industrial areas.