Maldives Collects Biometric Data of 150,000 Migrant Workers

In a significant move toward strengthening the rights of expatriate workers, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced that biometric data from 150,000 migrant workers in the Maldives has been successfully collected. This update marks a key milestone in 'Operation Kurangi', a government-led initiative launched on May 2, 2024, to gather biometric information from foreign workers across the country.

The announcement came as the Maldives observed Labor Day, with President Muizzu sharing the news via a post on X, highlighting the administration’s commitment to addressing long-standing challenges faced by migrant workers.

The data collected includes 10 fingerprints and facial photographs, which are now part of an updated national database. According to the President, this step is vital for establishing a permanent and fair solution for thousands of workers, many of whom have been living without legal documentation.

Expatriate workers form a majority of the Maldives’ workforce, with 132,371 out of the country’s 500,000 population identified as foreign nationals in the latest census. Many remain undocumented, leading to difficulties in labor management and recruitment.

Operation Kurangi’s first phase aims to regularize all expatriate workers, and the Home Ministry expects recruitment challenges to ease significantly once the process is complete.