Human Trafficking
“No one came illegally”: migrant extortion scandal exposes systemic failures
The Bangladesh High Commissioner called for reforms to address root causes.
26 Mar, 11:34 PM
Wednesday roundup: human trafficking, MMPRC corruption and Addu power project
A roundup of the day’s top stories.
23 Oct 2019, 9:00 AM
Immigration under fire for deporting suspects without investigation
No Maldivian has been convicted of human trafficking to date.
15 Sep 2019, 9:00 AM
67 employers of foreign workers under investigation
The economic ministry has taken over issuing quotas and granting employment approvals.
24 Mar 2019, 9:00 AM
Migrant worker mandate transferred to economic ministry
The immigration department will stop granting work permits and issuing quotas in March.
13 Feb 2019, 9:00 AM
Undocumented workers denied healthcare
A Bangladeshi man died last week as hospitals refuse to treat expatriates without passports or work permits.
17 Jan 2019, 9:00 AM
Maldives downgraded on US human trafficking watchlist
A further downgrade could entail non-humanitarian and non-trade sanctions.
30 Jun 2018, 9:00 AM
Court hears closing arguments in trafficking trial
Mohamed Muahmar and Hussain Sunaih, the first Maldivians put on trial for human trafficking, are accused of submitting fake construction agreements and other documents to obtain hundreds of immigration permits.
01 Nov 2017, 9:00 AM
Bangladeshi admits guilt on trafficking charge
A Bangladeshi man on trial for trafficking three fellow countrymen into the Maldives admitted guilt at court on Monday.
31 Oct 2017, 9:00 AM
Maldives taken off US human trafficking watch list
The Maldives was on the tier two watch list for the past two years due to the low rate of prosecution and inadequate and inconsistent protection for victims. A downgrade to tier three could have entailed non-humanitarian and non-trade sanctions.
28 Jun 2017, 9:00 AM
Officials blame victims of human-trafficking for low conviction rates
Human-trafficking cases are stalled “because victims want to leave the country immediately or weren’t prepared to cooperate with investigators,” the police said.
28 Nov 2016, 9:00 AM
Lily International accused of ‘targeting and trapping’ migrant worker
An Indian migrant worker was arrested in the Maldives on charges of assualt hours after he formally accused his employer, Lily International, of withholding his passport in order to prevent him from leaving the country.
15 Nov 2016, 9:00 AM
5,000 ‘irregular’ migrant workers sent back
Some 5,000 migrant workers have been repatriated this year due to “irregularities” such as expired work visas and lack of valid travel documents.
29 Aug 2016, 9:00 AM
Judges launch workshops and action plans in apparent reform effort
The Maldives’ embattled judiciary, which has long-resisted calls for reform, has launched a series of workshops, emphasizing access to justice, improving efficiency and skills, and administrative reform.
14 May 2016, 9:00 AM
Judges pledge to tackle human-trafficking
Maldivian judges have pledged their support to end human trafficking, agreeing to hold awareness sessions with contractors and use a special logo on all construction bid invitations by the judiciary.
08 May 2016, 9:00 AM
Bangladeshi man stranded at sea in attempt to flee employer
A fishing boat found a Bangladeshi migrant worker stranded at sea in an alleged to flee from his employers at a resort under construction on a northern island.
11 Apr 2016, 9:00 AM
Two foreigners arrested on human trafficking charges
The pair are accused of illegally “recruiting” migrant workers to bring to the Maldives. They were apprehended yesterday from Addu City and Vilimalé in joint operations conducted by the immigration department and the police.
05 Jan 2016, 9:00 AM
Maldives signs anti-human trafficking protocol
The Maldives today acceded to the the ‘Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children,’ a protocol to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime.
28 Dec 2015, 9:00 AM
Government widens age range for foreign domestic servants
The immigration department has widened the age range for foreign domestic servants, drivers and attendants to between 23 and 58 years of age.
03 Sep 2015, 9:00 AM
Police and immigration team up on human-trafficking, Maldivian Jihadists
The police and the Immigration Department are boosting information sharing to tackle chronic problems of human trafficking, the outflow of Maldivians Jihadists and document forgery.
25 Aug 2015, 9:00 AM
