The Homeland Security Ministry has reauthorized bringing unskilled laborers from India and Nepal.
The hiring of unskilled laborers from other countries was temporarily suspended after the government lifted a ban on bringing Bangladeshi laborers to the country. The Homeland Security Ministry announced the decision last Sunday.
But at a press conference on Wednesday, Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan said the border will be reopened with effect on December 20 for bringing Indian and Nepali laborers. The decision was made after considering matters related to bringing laborers to the Maldives from other countries, he said.
"What it means is that it has been arranged starting from today to allow the entry of unskilled laborers from India and Nepal to the country," he said.
At present, laborers can only be hired from Bangladesh, India and Nepal.
In addition to the three countries, the ministry is conducting assessments on bringing laborers from other countries as well, the minister said. After the assessments are completed, the hiring of laborers would resume as before, he added.
The decision to lift the ban on bringing unskilled Bangladeshi laborers came about four years after it was imposed to tackle the growing problem of undocumented workers.
Complaints from businesses was one reason that Bangladesh was prioritized in authorizing the hiring of unskilled migrant workers, Minister Ihusan said previously. Several people met during President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's election campaign made the complaint, he said.
Despite the absence of any legal obstacle, the decision to reauthorize the hiring of Bangladeshis was made after due consideration, Ihusan said.
According to the law, the maximum number of workers allowed from any one country is 100,000. The latest figures published by the Economic Ministry show that the number of Bangladeshis currently living in the Maldives exceeds that figure. But the report has been deleted and the government says there are now 90,000 Bangladeshi workers in the country.
