Maldives (Commonwealth Union)_ The government of the Maldives has announced a new directive requiring migrant workers in the country to submit their biometric data by March 15, 2025, or face potential deportation after April 20. This move is part of a larger national effort to streamline the identification and regulation of foreign workers, ensuring that they comply with the country’s legal framework. According to media reports, the Ministry of Homeland Security issued the latest directive, stressing the urgency of compliance for all foreign workers who have yet to provide their biometric data. The March 15 deadline for submitting face and fingerprint biometrics is set to ensure that individuals who wish to continue residing and working in the Maldives do so legally.
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The mandate follows a broader initiative called Operation Kurangi, launched in May 2024, which aims to establish a comprehensive biometric identification system for all foreigners living in the country. This operation seeks to identify the nationality, employment status, and legal documentation of expatriates, as well as streamline the process of granting legal status to foreign workers who comply with the new regulations. So far, more than 52,000 migrant workers have submitted their biometrics, including face and fingerprint data, which will be compiled into a central database. However, with the latest census revealing that over 132,000 expatriates live in the Maldives, many of whom are undocumented, the government is focusing on ensuring that all foreign nationals comply with the new rules.
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The Ministry of Homeland Security has been clear in its communication, underlining the consequences of non-compliance. Employers are responsible for collecting and submitting the required biometric data for their foreign employees. The government has warned that failure to comply by the March 15 deadline will result in severe penalties, including the suspension of workers from the national expatriate system, as well as the withdrawal of services. These penalties extend to both employers and workers who neglect to update their biometric records. The government’s move is aimed at addressing a significant issue in the Maldives: undocumented migrant workers. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a large portion of the country’s population, estimated at around 500,000, are migrant workers, many of whom come from neighboring countries such as Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka, as well as Egypt, the Philippines, and Iran.
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These workers are crucial to sectors like tourism, construction, healthcare, and education, but a significant number remain undocumented, which has led to the government’s crackdown on illegal immigration. The government is carrying out Operation Kurangi in three phases. The first phase involves gathering biometric data from all expatriates, followed by the issuance of photo ID cards. The second phase includes coordination with embassies and consular services to verify the identities of migrant workers. The final phase will focus on deporting those who have failed to meet the government’s biometric registration requirements.
The government has set an ambitious timeline, planning to complete the operation by April 2027. The objective is to reduce the number of undocumented immigrants and curb the growth of illegal businesses operating in the country. So far, the initiative has led to the deportation of over 5,600 migrant workers who were either working illegally or running unauthorized businesses. In a statement, the Ministry of Homeland Security emphasized the importance of maintaining accurate and up-to-date records of all foreign nationals. The biometric data collected will serve as a vital tool for the government to regulate the presence of expatriates and ensure that they are contributing to the economy legally.
The government’s crackdown on illegal workers is not new. Authorities expelled over 3,000 foreign nationals last year for entering the country without the necessary legal documentation. With the introduction of Operation Kurangi, the Maldives aims to establish a more organized system that tracks migrant workers and ensures the country’s immigration policies are enforced effectively. As the deadline for biometric registration approaches, migrant workers across the country are urged to comply with the government’s directive. Employers, too, are reminded of their role in ensuring that their workers are registered by the specified date to avoid potential penalties. For those who fail to do so, the consequences could be severe, with deportation a real possibility starting in April.
