Major changes to the categorization of expatriate workers have resulted in numerous foreign healthcare professionals losing their "professional" status.
The Home Ministry classifies foreign workers in the Maldives into two categories: professional and non-professional. Those in the professional category are eligible for dependent visas and are permitted higher remittance limits.
Under the revised "Expat System Occupation Categorization," medical technicians have been removed from the professional category. The Maldives Health Professionals Union (MHPU) said that this change has caused hardship for foreign healthcare workers.
"Many of these workers have built their lives in the Maldives. Their spouses live here, and their children attend local schools. Without access to dependent visas, families are being separated, and children are being forced to leave the country," the union said.
The MHPU warned that these developments would also adversely affect the Maldives, which relies heavily on foreign labor.
"This change could hinder our ability to retain skilled workers and may lead to disruptions in the continuous delivery of essential services," the union added.
