Police stops a protest by expats

Police have stopped a protest by foreign workers of a private company claiming that they are not getting paid.

More than 150 foreign works of Hotels and Resort Construction Company began their protest at 3:30 p.m. at the Raalhugandu (Surf Point) area. The protest march from the Raalhugandu area to the Usfasgandu area was quickly stopped by a team from the Police and Immigration.

The Police Media Official told Sun Media that the expat protest today was stopped because it is illegal for foreigners to protest in the Maldives. He said that it is illegal for foreigners who enter the country on Work VISA to protest in the country.

The protestors told Sun Media that they were protesting because they are not getting paid. And they said that they have not been paid for the last three months.

Manager of the Hotels and Resort Construction Company, Ahmed VIsham denied the allegation today and told Sun Media that they did not hold their salaries for three months.

“…There were a number of holidays recently, no? Because of those holidays or salary payments to the foreign employees were delayed. And because we are paying in (U.S.) Dollar, this issue came up.” Visham said.

He said that there are no longer any payments pending to their employees now and have paid it all tonight.

“Actually, we are paying the salaries in two ways. That is, before the 15th of the month, salary is given to the employees in (U.S.) Dollars. And on the 30thy we’re giving the salaries to our employees in Maldivian currency (MVR).” Visham said.

The Media Official of Immigration, Hassan Khaleel told Sun Media that a team from Immigration went the area of protest by the expats and the officers were told that they were not getting their salaries.

“That matter is in the mandate of the Labor Relations Authority of Immigrations and so we would present the case (the expat protest) to the Labor Relations Authority.” Media Official Khaleel.