Quotas given when no suitable locals are available – Ministry

Employment Ministry has revealed that quotas to bring in foreigners to Maldives are usually given only when locals suitable for those particular jobs are not available.

Employment Ministry also revealed that a total of 181 agencies are currently engaged in the recruitment business. Ministry also revealed that normal all agencies usually communicate with Ministry, however some agencies sometimes do not. Ministry also emphasized that all agencies in the recruitment business are checked by the Ministry prior to the issuance of the operating permit.

According to Employment Ministry’s statistics 53,901 foreigners were engaged in jobs in Maldives in year 2006 and the figure rose to 67,942 in year 2007.

Employment Ministry also revealed that the Ministry issued wanted notices for 315 foreigners who went missing from their respective work sites as of October last year.

According to experienced construction business owner, the uncontrollable increase in number of foreigners in the country is due to failure of some parties engaged in the recruitment industry to follow pertinent regulations.