Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusaan has said that the government will scrap the existing online platform to manage the details of foreign workers in the Maldives and begin using the system from Malaysian company Bestinet starting in May.
Ihusaan told Adhadhu that the first phase of the expat system could be used starting in May based on how the work was progressing.
"It is now expected that the rollout of the first phase of Bestinet's expat system will take place in May," the minister said.
Ihusaan earlier told Adhadhu that the agreement with Bestinet to build the expat system was reached after the 2016 agreement failed and USD 13.7 million in damages could not be paid in one lump sum.
Although the agreement signed during former President Abdulla Yameen's administration in 2016 was not implemented by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government, the company did not seek any compensation.
Following President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's decision to resume the agreement, the company will receive MVR 6.9 billion over 15 years.
The government earns MVR 6200 per foreign worker each year. That is MVR 2000 for the quota fee and a work permit fee of MVR 4200 at the rate of MVR 350 each month.
According to the agreement with Bestinet, the government will pay USD 100 or MVR 1542 to the company as the fees for each foreign worker every year. The employee will have to pay USD 50 (MVR 771) per person for medical insurance.
Bestinet faces serious allegations of corruption, fraud and deception. The company has faced these accusations in Malaysia, Bangladesh and Nepal and some investigations are currently underway.
Independent probes have revealed that Bestinet has links to the country's royal family, powerful politicians and businessmen.
Bestinet first arrived in the Maldives during the Yameen administration. The government signed a 15-year agreement with Bestinet in October 2016 through the influence of powerful government officials. Mohamed Anwar was the Controller of Immigration at the time and matters related to foreign workers were under the Immigration.
Meanwhile, former Home Minister Umar Naseer has called for an investigation after the existing online platform for managing the details of foreign workers in the Maldives was scrapped with an agreement with Bestinet.
