All employers in the greater Malé region—including Malé, Hulhumalé, Villimalé, Thilafushi, and Gulhifalhu—are required to collect and update the biometric data of all migrant workers employed within their companies, as mandated by a directive from the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology. This mandate is part of a broader initiative aimed at addressing issues related to undocumented migrant workers.
In an official announcement, the homeland security ministry highlighted the urgency and critical importance of compliance. Employers are required to collect general information, fingerprints, and identification photographs of all migrant workers, according to the ministry. The deadline for the submission of this updated information is 15 March.
The homeland security ministry underscored that non-compliance with this directive will attract stringent penalties. Employers and migrant workers who do not update their biometric data by the specified deadline will be subject to punitive actions, according to the directive, including suspension from the ministry’s expat system and the withdrawal of all services provided to the affected individuals.
This initiative is part of a specialised operation launched by the administration to address the challenges posed by undocumented migrant workers. Dubbed 'Kurangi,' the operation aims to establish a comprehensive and up-to-date record of all migrant workers in the country. To facilitate this operation, a joint operations centre has been established at the National Centre for Information Technology (NCIT). This facility operates daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., excluding Fridays.
The homeland security ministry, in collaboration with its partners, is collecting biometric data from migrant workers across the nation. By the end of January 2025, the ministry had successfully compiled biometric data from over 25,000 migrant workers. This effort also encompasses data collection from expatriate teachers and workers at the Malé-Thilafushi bridge construction site, totalling more than 1,400 individuals, according to the ministry.
The primary objective of this operation is to maintain precise records and up-to-date information on all migrant workers in the country. The administration aims to address the issues and challenges associated with undocumented migrant workers and illegal businesses by April 2027. As a result of this operation, over 5,600 migrant workers who were working illegally or operating unauthorised businesses have been deported, according to the government.