104 foreigners without work permit summoned to Immigration Department

104 foreigners working illegally in Male’ have been summoned the Department of Immigration and Emigration on Wednesday.

The Department of Immigration and Emigration has said that under an operation conducted on Wednesday in cooperation with Police, 104 foreigners working in Male’ without any document of their identification has been summoned to the Department for further verification after questioning foreigners near Masjudul Zikuraa in Majeedhee Magu.

According to Immigration Department, it is a government priority to identify and repatriate foreigners working illegally in the Maldives in order to improve economy of the country and to provide jobs opportunities for local youths.

According to the regulation on work visa of foreigners coming to work in Maldives, it is not allowed to employ a foreigner who is not under the responsibility of the employer, and anyone who breaks this law would be penalized with a fine not more than MVR 50,000. In addition, Department of Immigration and Emigration has the authority to refuse permission to bring in foreign workers for the person/company if this offense is repeated for the fourth time.

According to the regulation, if the offender is an expatriate, the person will be penalized with a fine between MVR 15,000 and MVR 50,000, and the Controller of Immigration and Emigration shall have the discretion to deport and prohibit him/her from entering Maldives for a specific period.

More than 3,000 foreigners working illegally in Maldives have been sent to their countries during last year.