Immigration to start re-issuing permits for Bangladeshi laborers in March

Maldives Immigration reports it will start re-issuing work visas for Bangladeshi laborers in coming March after a four-month hiatus.

Maldives immigration suspended issuance of work visas to Bangladeshi laborers in November 6, 2016 – a decision which numerous construction companies expressed concern over after it resulted it brought projects to a halt.

A senior official from Immigration reported to “Sun” that the authority expected to resume issuing work visas to foreign laborers in March after review.

Information Officer for Maldives immigration, Hassan Khaleel reported to “Sun” this Monday that the service will only resume after revisions are made to address issues.

“This is being done in collaboration with a number of parties. We are trying to expedite the work,” said Hassan Khaleel.

Khaleel said that despite the suspension, the authority was granting limited work visas for foreign laborers working on major projects such as the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge and renovation of Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital.

Work visas continue to be issued to foreign laborers who belong to other nationalities.

However, population of foreign laborers who work in Maldives is dominated by Bangladeshi nationals given the cheaper cost.

The suspension of work visas to Bangladeshi laborers was imposed without prior warning.

It is part of the State’s effort to reform the system to protect migrant worker rights.

Immigration reports that in the future, migrant workers will need to register with Maldivian missions in the country of their nationality before they travel to Maldives. It also reports better background checks will be imposed before they are issued work visas.