Ban on foreign cashiers ‘killing’ small businesses

A government ban on employing foreign cashiers in restaurants, cafés and shops is “killing” small businesses, owners have said.

More than 60 businesses across the country have been fined by MVR10,000 (US$648) over the past year for employing foreigners, local media report. The state is expecting more than a million rufiyaa in fines.

The policy, which came into effect in April last year, was sold as an attempt to open up job opportunities for young Maldivians, of whom more than half are unemployed.

But small businesses owners I spoke to said they are unable to hire Maldivians as the job is seen as socially unacceptable and is poorly paid. Experts meanwhile have welcomed the policy, but say it is being implemented poorly. The government must train cashiers and provide support for small businesses instead of imposing hefty fines, they said.