Government Faces Backlash Over Lifting Ban on Recruitment of Unskilled Bangladeshi Workers

The Maldivian government's decision to lift the ban on recruiting unskilled Bangladeshi workers has sparked public backlash. Fayyaz Ismail, chairperson of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), called the move unlawful and a threat to national security, citing Article 65(a) of the Employment Act which limits foreign workers from any country to 100,000. The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology defended the decision, stating the current number of Bangladeshi workers is 90,624, below the threshold. However, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade removed statistics showing 139,220 workers from its social media, prompting concerns. Minister Mohamed Saeed denied knowledge of the removal and called for an investigation. The previous Solih administration had banned unskilled Bangladeshi workers to curb human trafficking, which was a lucrative illegal business. The United Nations reports that Maldives has the largest proportional migrant population in South Asia, with many undocumented.

The Maldivian government's decision to lift the ban on recruiting unskilled Bangladeshi workers has sparked public backlash. Fayyaz Ismail, chairperson of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), called the move unlawful and a threat to national security, citing Article 65(a) of the Employment Act which limits foreign workers from any country to 100,000. The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology defended the decision, stating the current number of Bangladeshi workers is 90,624, below the threshold. However, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade removed statistics showing 139,220 workers from its social media, prompting concerns. Minister Mohamed Saeed denied knowledge of the removal and called for an investigation. The previous Solih administration had banned unskilled Bangladeshi workers to curb human trafficking, which was a lucrative illegal business. The United Nations reports that Maldives has the largest proportional migrant population in South Asia, with many undocumented.

The Maldivian government's decision to lift the ban on recruiting unskilled Bangladeshi workers has sparked public backlash. Fayyaz Ismail, chairperson of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), called the move unlawful and a threat to national security, citing Article 65(a) of the Employment Act which limits foreign workers from any country to 100,000. The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology defended the decision, stating the current number of Bangladeshi workers is 90,624, below the threshold. However, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade removed statistics showing 139,220 workers from its social media, prompting concerns. Minister Mohamed Saeed denied knowledge of the removal and called for an investigation. The previous Solih administration had banned unskilled Bangladeshi workers to curb human trafficking, which was a lucrative illegal business. The United Nations reports that Maldives has the largest proportional migrant population in South Asia, with many undocumented.

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