The government has decided to propose to scrap the limit on foreign workers from a single country stipulated in the Employment Act.
The Employment Act currently prohibits more than 100,000 workers from a single country.
Home Minister Ali Ihusan told the Security Services Committee (241 Committee) of the Parliament today that the limit of 100,000 on neighboring Bangladesh should be scrapped given the current and expected need for workers in Maldives. However, he admitted that it should not be done unless additional measures are taken.
The government has temporarily suspended the hiring of workers from Bangladesh until measures are taken to systematically strengthen record keeping. The minister said the measures would be completed within the next three weeks.
"At the same time, with the resumption of hiring workers from Bangladesh, this 100,000 limit will be reached. We will recommend to Parliament to remove the limit. But it will be removed only after we have installed the safeguards," he said.
The minister added that he does not believe that "the current labor demand in Maldives can be met" if the limit of 100,000 workers from Bangladesh is not removed.
He said that the government is taking two main steps before removing the limit.
The first step is to change how foreigners' records are maintained. Ihusan said the system will be turned into a "100 percent biometrically accountable system."
The second step is to ensure that the records of foreign workers are kept by the island councils. If the person with a centrally issued work permit works in an island, the council will also have to endorse the work permit.
Ihsan said this will permanently solve the problem of foreigners living in Maldives without valid documents.
