144 businesses have been fined

A 144 business have been fined for having expats at their counters and not closing on time.

Deputy Minister of the Economic Ministry, Adam Thaufeeq told Sun Media today that they have checked 1104 businesses in Malé City and 199 of those businesses had foreign cashiers. And that they found that 23 businesses are not closing on time. Deputy Minister Thaufeeq said that they have fined 144 of those businesses.

Those who violate that law is usually fined with MVR 2000 and ordered to correct it.

As the government has started inspecting cafés and restaurants, they have started using local cashiers during the day and foreign cashiers for the night shift.

Deputy Minister Thaufeeq said that they won’t be as lenient as they have been in the past and they would cancel permits as well if they have to aside from the fines.

He said that while businesses in Malé City are being inspected, the businesses in the atolls would also be inspected through the Councils and appropriate steps would be taken.