Home Ministry orders employers to open bank accounts for migrant workers without delay

The Homeland Ministry has urged employers to open bank accounts in the name of migrant workers as soon as possible.

An amendment to the Foreigners Employment Regulations, issued on the 25th of last month, made it compulsory for foreigners working in Maldives to receive their salaries through bank accounts. Under the amendment, salaries must be deposited into an account opened in the employee’s name at a bank registered with the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) or otherwise authorised by the authority.

In an announcement on Monday, the ministry called on employers to open bank accounts for migrant workers without delay. It also stated that, in cases investigated by the Labor Relations Authority, salary payments will be considered valid only if deposited into an employee’s bank account registered with or authorised by the MMA.

In a separate announcement, the ministry said it had observed that some businesses were using business visas to expedite the process of obtaining work permits. As a result, foreigners entering Maldives on business visas or special visas will no longer be permitted to convert those visas into work visas from Tuesday onwards.

A large number of foreigners work in Maldives, and many continue to live without proper documentation. The government says it is working to address these issues and bring migrant employment into proper order.