Bangladeshi workers’ return hinges on resolving illegal immigration issues: Minister

Home Land Minister Ali Ihsan has stated that Bangladeshi workers will only be allowed to return to the Maldives once the government finds adequate solutions to the issues surrounding illegal immigration.

New Bangladeshi workers were banned from entering the Maldives four years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic, under the administration of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. However, after President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu took office, a special permit was issued in December last year to bring Bangladeshi workers to the Maldives. This special permit was not widely available, leading to complaints from companies in need of foreign workers.

During a meeting with companies that facilitate the entry of foreign workers into the Maldives, Minister Ihsan stated that a general permit to bring in foreign workers will not be issued until the issues related to illegal immigration are resolved and a registry of workers is established. The minister noted that some companies that bring foreigners to the Maldives have not been regularly paying the required state fees or the salaries of their workers. While failure to pay the fees results in the workers becoming illegal, the responsibility for this has to be taken by the companies too, he said.

Minister Ihsan pointed out that, despite releasing a list of companies that have not paid fees on time, many have still failed to settle their dues.

“There are still many companies that owe very large amounts,” Ihsan said.

Minister Ihsan said earlier stated that the problem of illegal foreigners in the Maldives will be solved within three years. The current efforts are focused on identifying foreign workers in the country. Ihsan said the illegal immigrants will be treated in two ways once identified: they can either enter the system as registered expatriate workers, provided they have no serious issues, or they must leave the Maldives.

According to Homeland Security, there are currently 90,624 Bangladeshi workers in the Maldives. However, only 36 percent of foreign workers have their fees regularly paid by their employers.