Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusaan has said a new system from Malaysian company Bestinet to manage the details of foreign workers in the Maldives will be completed on December 20.
Ihusaan told Adhadhu that the first phase of the service will start on December 20, after the ministry makes the necessary changes to the system.
"The first phase of service is scheduled to begin on December 20..." he said.
The government earlier said the existing online platform will be scrapped in May with the introduction of the Bestinet system.
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 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.
