41 arrested in Hulhumale’ unrest remanded in custody for 15 days

A court, on Tuesday, ordered 41 migrant workers arrest in a protest in suburban Hulhumale’ which escalated into violence to be remanded in custody of the police for 15 days.

The police, in a statement, said the suspects were presented before the court for their remand hearing on Tuesday, and that the court has granted the police 15 days to keep the suspects detained for the investigation in a detention facility determined by the Home Affairs Ministry.

The 41 workers were arrested from Hulhumale’ on Monday, after a protest staged by employees of Island Expert over months of unpaid wages escalated into violence.

The disgruntled workers threw bricks at police officers who attended the scene, injuring several police officers and damaging police and private property.

Island Expert is the contractor for the housing project for security services in Hulhumale’. Migrant workers employed by the company have stated that they have not been paid their wages since January. They had held several protests last week, following which the company paid the workers MVR 1,600 each, but continued to withhold their full wages.

The case in Hulhumale’ follows a violent protest by migrant workers in Bodufinolhu, an island under development as a tourist resort in B. Atoll, earlier this month; during which they held local employees hostage and damaged property.

The workers in Bodufinolhu told Public Interest Law Center (PILC), which is offering free legal aid to them, that they have not been paid their wages in six months.

19 people were arrested in connection to the case in Bodufinolhu. They were also remanded in custody of the police for 15 days.

Maldives Police Service, in a statement following the unrest in Hulhumale’ on Monday, issued a statement condemning violent behavior which puts life and property of the public and security services at risk.

“We assure the public that strict legal action will be taken against those who commit such violence and unlawful activities,” said the police in their statement.

The police advised against resorting to violence in the name of industrial conflicts and requested that parties involved seek legal measures to resolve issues such as unpaid wages and other contractual disagreements between employees and employers.