President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has ratified the eighth amendment to the Maldives Employment Act (2/2008). The amendment was passed by Parliament on Wednesday, September 1, 2024, at the 30th sitting of its second session this year.
The Bill states that foreigners are only permitted to work in the Maldives if they have acquired authorisation in accordance with the Maldives Employment Act and its related regulations. It also outlines the penalties for not complying with these requirements. Furthermore, the Bill specifies the maximum number of foreigners allowed and identifies the specific sectors or areas where they are permitted to work.
The amendment to the Act has established and detailed the obligations imposed on employers for the recruitment of foreigners in the Maldives. This includes the registration of the workplace where the foreigners will be employed, the acquisition of necessary permissions, securing the appropriate quota for foreigners, and obtaining a valid work permit. The amendment also specifies the procedures for addressing violations by those found to exhibit insensitivity towards foreigners.
Upon the President's ratification of the Bill, amendments to the regulations formulated under this Act shall be drafted and published in the Government Gazette within three months from the Act's commencement date.
Following ratification, the Act has been published in the Government Gazette and has now come into effect.