The government has announced a wide-ranging initiative to regularise the status of thousands of undocumented migrant workers, addressing what officials have described as a significant public concern.
The programme, led by the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology, will offer a legal pathway for undocumented individuals to formalise their presence in the country. The announcement was made by Abdul Majeed Ibrahim, State Minister for Homeland Security, following the initial phase of ‘Operation Kurangi’, a nationwide effort to collect detailed data on the migrant workforce.
Operation Kurangi has so far documented information on more than 160,000 migrant workers. According to State Minister Abdul Majeed, the findings revealed a considerable number of individuals working outside the bounds of the legal framework.
“Based on the data we collected during the initial phase, we have identified that a significant number of individuals are currently working in the Maldives outside of the regulatory framework,” Abdul Majeed said in an interview with PSM News’ ‘Raajje Miadhu’ programme. He pointed to employer negligence as one of the contributing factors, noting that many workers have been unable to comply with immigration regulations due to circumstances beyond their control.
In response to these findings, the ministry will introduce a six-month window during which undocumented workers may regularise their status. “We believe there are many individuals who, whether due to various personal circumstances or employer negligence, have been unable to enter the regulatory system,” Abdul Majeed said. “Therefore, it is critically important for them to utilise this opportunity to regularise their status once this window is opened.”
The initiative reflects a shift in strategy, placing greater emphasis on registration and compliance. It complements existing enforcement efforts by Maldives Immigration, which continues to inspect the living and working conditions of migrant workers. Authorities have been deporting individuals found to be in violation of immigration laws.