Work Permit Quota Slots to Be Released Only After Full Fee Settlement: Ministry of Homeland Security

The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology has announced that quota slots for revoked work permits will only be reinstated after employers fully settle all outstanding fees and penalties. The clarification comes amid efforts to improve compliance within the Maldives’ expatriate workforce management system.

Previously, employers were granted the flexibility to settle dues through instalment agreements. However, the Ministry stated that concessions have now been tightened. Employers whose work permits are cancelled due to non-payment may only reclaim quota slots once the full amount owed is paid via the Expat System.

According to the Ministry, there are currently 68,000 registered employers on the Expat Portal, but only 7,900 are actively paying their fees on time. Over 8,000 individuals have been suspended from the portal due to non-compliance. The government has recovered USD 77.8 million out of a total USD 110.23 million owed in foreign worker-related fees.

In parallel, the Ministry is undertaking a broader initiative to gather and verify foreign worker data, including biometric registration. To date, biometric data has been collected from over 177,000 foreign nationals residing in the Maldives.

The government reaffirmed its commitment to streamlining foreign worker management and ensuring accountability through stricter enforcement of payment obligations.