Defense Minister Mohamed Nazim stated the figures indicating expatriate population in Maldives under the Census program results conducted this year is not legit.
Defence Minister، Colonel (Retired) Mohamed Nazim claimed this while addressing media during a press conference held to highlight the projects and operations carried out by Ministry of Defense and National Security over the last year.
“Statistics reported under the Census are not correct values، our figures strongly indicate higher figures in expatriate population” Minister Nazim explained.
Moreover، he stated according to the statistical reports of Immigration department an approximate amount of 120،000 expatriates are currently residing in Maldives.
“Our estimations show a rough amount of 120،000 foreign nationals living in Maldives، of which 30،000 have gained accessed into our country on illegitimate terms” Nazim added.
He also stressed the reason figures came wrong is due expatriates either not giving proper information or not giving information at all.
According to the temporary Census results، Maldives has a rough total of 58،000 foreign nationals in the country.
While highlighting the wrong figures، Minister Nazim also detailed that an amount of 7962 expatriates who have entered the country without proper legislation have been deported back to their homelands and due to this country’s economy was able to hold $24 million within the local economy.
Minister Nazim emphasized the increase of foreign nationals through legal and non-legal means falls on everyone’s shoulders، noting that most of their employers bring foreign personnel without authorization and unknown to authorities.
“From the visit I had to Raa. Atoll and after inquiring from various islanders، I got to know that many employers have brought expatriates wihtout proper authorization، it is not only government’s responsibility to deport such personnels back to their homeland، and from the three islands I visited roughly 150 foreign nationals are kept hidden from authorities” Nazim concluded.