The Maldives Immigration has launched a special initiative titled "Operation Hamamagu" to ensure that foreign workers in the country comply with the laws and regulations.
The Migration Monitoring and Compliance Programme (MMCP) was inaugurated by the Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan and the Controller General of Immigration Ahmed Faseeh.
According to Immigration, the Migrant Monitoring and Compliance Programme aims to monitor the activities of foreign workers in the Maldives and provide necessary assistance, while ensuring that they are working in accordance with the law.
As part of the programme in the Male’ area, Immigration officers will be active in areas where foreigners reside or frequent, conducting patrols on motorcycles. Although Immigration officers were previously deployed in specific areas, the new programme will see patrols extended across the entire city.
Immigration noted that despite the launch of the special programme, it will continue to conduct raid operations in collaboration with the police on information received from the public via the Immigration Watch and other channels. The programme will require public cooperation, the authority stressed.
The government has intensified its efforts to address the issue of undocumented migrants residing in the Maldives. As part of these measures, the biometric data of more than 191,000 foreign nationals has been collected. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said foreign workers who fail to share their information with the authorities will be deported without being given a second opportunity.