News Desk
In a sweeping move to address foreign labor violations, the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology has publicly named businesses that owe substantial fees, fines, and penalties. The ministry’s recent report reveals that top firms collectively owe a staggering MVR 636 million—an amount equivalent to the cost of 424 apartments, each measuring 800 square feet.
The list highlights over 100,000 businesses with outstanding payments for permits issued to foreign employees. Notably, 1,026 companies owe more than MVR 100,000 each. The breakdown of the total debt includes MVR 573,840,450 in work permit fees, MVR 96,550,286 in quota fees, and MVR 2,144,000 in cancellation penalties.
The government has raised concerns about the broader implications of these unpaid dues. With the substantial sums owed, questions arise regarding whether these companies are meeting their obligations to pay staff salaries on time.
To address this issue, the Ministry has set a deadline for the companies to clear their debts by the first week of next month. Failure to meet this deadline will lead to the suspension of new permit issuances through the Expat system, potentially disrupting the workforce of numerous businesses dependent on foreign labor.
This initiative marks a significant shift from previous approaches, reflecting the current administration’s commitment to tackling the persistent issues surrounding foreign labor and improving compliance with regulations.
