A group of foreign workers employed at a resort development project in Kaafu Bolidhuffaru lagoon have been taken into custody at the Immigration Detention Centre after resisting attempts to deport them.
The workers were being sent back to their home countries following a protest over unpaid wages and other welfare concerns. It is estimated that more than 100 workers participated in the demonstration.
According to the police, 22 expatriates involved in the protest were taken to the airport for repatriation. While one individual departed without incident, the remaining 21 refused to leave, leading to their handover to Maldives Immigration.
Police said that the workers were brought to the airport after their employer decided to terminate their employment and completed the necessary administrative processes for their removal.
Maldives Immigration confirmed that 21 expatriates were handed over by the police for disobeying lawful orders and stated that action would be taken against them in accordance with established procedures.
"Due to their failure to comply with police orders, 21 foreign nationals have been transferred to Maldives Immigration by the Maldives Police Service. We are proceeding with measures against these individuals under the set regulations," an Immigration spokesperson said.
However, human rights advocate Transparency Maldives noted that the workers were taken to the airport for deportation and that the 21 individuals were detained only after they resisted the move.
Transparency Maldives condemned the attempt to deport the workers for demanding their rights, asserting that the right to protest is a fundamental freedom that must be respected.
"Under the Constitution, every person employed in the Maldives is granted the freedom to strike and protest. No worker should face intimidation, detention, or retaliatory measures for exercising these rights. We call for the immediate reversal of the decision to deport these migrant workers," Transparency Maldives said in a statement.
The organisation added that Maldives Immigration and the recruiting company are currently in discussions to determine the next steps for the workers held at the detention centre.
