Problem of foreigners

The Department of Immigration and Emigration has said that the problem of foreigners being involved in trade activities at the Male’ local market area remains unsolved, and that there is not much that can be done about this problem.

Controller of Immigration and Emigration Dr Mohamed Ali told Sun Online today that the department was working nonstop on solving the problem of foreigners being involved in trade activities in the local market, the fish market and the travellers’ market; however, the institution that should take responsibility for this issue is Male’ City Council, which has not taken adequate action to address this problem.

“It is the responsibility of City Council to monitor this. The stalls at the market are given to Maldivians. Why should they [foreigners] be working at a place where no quota is given? Few days ago the place was raided and cleaned up. And when we checked, the stalls were being manned by foreigners,” he said.

Dr Mohamed Ali said that Maldivians are behind this operation, and that the department was working with the police on finding them and bringing them to justice.

Speaking on the same issue, Male’ City Council Member Ibrahim Sujau said that the council was also working with the police on solving this problem by finding the people who are behind this operation. He said that no solution can be found until the Immigration Department carries out its responsibilities to address the problem.

“Immigration Department is the body that allows them to enter the country. They are given visa by Immigration. They are allowed to enter under tourist visa, also by Immigration. So there is nothing we can do until these problems are solved. We have put up notices everywhere, saying that it is prohibited to have foreigners working at those places,” he said.

Sujau said that about 20,000 foreigners work illegally daily in Male’ alone, and that the problem cannot be solved until they can be repatriated. He also noted that the council does not have enough employees to monitor the activities of such a large group of people.

Immigration Department is working with the police on repatriating foreigners working illegally in Male’, but no adequate solution has been found so far.