The Maldivian government is preparing to reinstate the system of utilizing recruitment agencies to manage the employment of foreign workers, aiming to enhance the regulatory framework for expatriate labor. Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, stated that the diminished role of agencies in recent years has led to a rise in illicit practices, including the extortion of large sums of money from foreign nationals to facilitate their entry into the country.
To provide a permanent solution to these issues, a comprehensive legal framework will be developed. This framework will include the standardization of recruitment fees in accordance with international benchmarks and the implementation of auditing processes to ensure agency accountability. This new system is scheduled to be introduced upon the conclusion of the ongoing “Kurangi” operation. The primary objective of this initiative is to ensure that those involved in the recruitment process are held accountable, thereby narrowing the opportunities for illegal recruitment and human trafficking.
