Posts
Going by media reports, it appears as if most Maldivians believe that the 80,839 expatriate workers in the Maldives are an ‘issue’ or a ‘problem’ that needs to be solved, perhaps by repatriating them. However, as Human Rights Commission of the Maldives has said in its statement issued on 10th March, expatriate workers make a valuable contribution without which the Maldivian economy will be severely crippled. Thus, what is needed is not repatriation but solving the administrative, regulatory and law enforcement issues related to the expatriate labor force, some of which are:
Administrative issues:
At the end of 2008 there were 80,839 expatriates, up 10,075 from the70,764 at the beginning of the year. In addition, there were approximately 20,000 illegal immigrants according to the Human Resources Ministry. Recently on June 1st, the Ministry has started a registration program for them.
Law and order issues:
In some cases expatriates have been the victims of law and order issues, while in other cases they have been the perpetrators. Here are a few examples from this year:
-Eight persons were arrested on 19 February 2009 on charges of prostitution.
-Two expatriate waiters in a restaurant were arrested on 21 Feb on charges of credit card fraud worth Rf. 700,000.
-A Bangladeshi worker was found strangulated in Thilafushi on 16 April
-Two expatriates were arrested on 21 April with several cases of illegal Vodka.
-Four expatriate workers were arrested in Hulhudhoo, Addu Atoll, on 23 May for group violence.
-A Bangladeshi migrant was found badly battered and murdered on Hulhumale Beach on 1st June. Another Bangladeshi was arrested as a suspect in the case.
Exploitation and human rights violation:
- An expatriate worker fell to death from a demolition site on 11 February.
-A large number of expatriates organized a strike on 15 February saying their salaries were not paid.
-Employees of a prominent construction company organized a protest on 13 April saying their salaries were not paid.
12 comments:
Some chaps have found a new use for migrant workers. they keep young boys for 'you know what'.
Maldivians are not getting jobs because of these foreigners. employers keep the salaries low because they can get cheap labor. we must send them away.
Writing is the only profession where no one considers you ridiculous if you earn no money.
- Jules Renard
Wake up before migrants take over the country. do something. do you want to be refugees in your own country?
Gayyom wanted to make us oil shaikhs. We have become oil-less shaikhs. we are getting due reward for our laziness. so don't blame banghaalhees.
To Jules Renard,
Writing is an occupation in which you have to keep proving your talent to people who have none.
Is it true that Anni is a Bangladehi boy adopted by Kerefaa Naseem or Kerefaa Sattar, whoever his 'dad' is?
Maumoon's great great etc grand father was a Bangladehi man washed upon our shores. His daughter is married to Bangladehi man. Hence, Maumoon has a soft spot for expats esp Bangladehis. So, they were allowed free entry to Maldives.Now, Anni is trying to Ai foaruvaa these expats. So, we have no choice.
If Maldivians didnt have such an inflated ego to do the work that the Bangladeshi's do, Maldivians would have work.. stop blaming them...
Crimes are not committed just by foreigners.. I grew up in a house with Bangladeshi's who was working for my father(I am Maldivian). We ate the same food, slept under the same roof. They are hardworking, honest and humble. But like any group of people, there are crazy psychos among them too..
Maldivians have a tendency to degrade "Bangalhi's", "Tamalha", etc etc.. We are not above any human race for God's sake.. Out side the bubble we call "Maldives", we become the "bangalhi's" to people of many other countries...
To 8.18 anon.
You are absolutely right. When I was in UK I was called Paki(Pakistani) bu dhon British people. Other British dhon people called me Indian. When I look at myself in the mirror I think I look more like a Bangladehi . So, it really does not matter.
We in the Maldives are sadly very racist. We even have negative words like baburu smell etc.in our language.
All the credit goes to Maumoon for illegal expatriate problems!
All good Maldivians are direct descendants of a holy man from Chitagong in Bangladesh.
Post a Comment