The government has intensified its efforts to document migrant workers residing within the country, with biometric data for 174,152 migrant workers now recorded in a centralised national database. The campaign, formally titled 'Operation Kurangi', is being led by the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology and forms a cornerstone of the administration’s strategy to address undocumented labour.
Initiated on 2 May 2024, the operation has targeted expatriate populations across a range of strategic locations, including the capital region of Malé, designated industrial zones, and resort properties. The ministry has also implemented mechanisms to extend data collection to migrant communities across the country’s inhabited islands and atolls.
Biometric records compiled under the initiative include ten-fingerprint scans and facial photographs, enabling identity verification through facial recognition technology. Ministry sources report that the first phase of the operation is nearing completion, with the second phase already underway.
According to government authorities, the operation is designed to provide a durable solution to the issue of undocumented migrant residency. The initiative seeks to determine whether foreign nationals are employed in accordance with Maldivian labour laws and immigration regulations, thereby reinforcing legal compliance across the workforce.
The second phase of the operation is structured to offer legally employed individuals an opportunity to regularise their status. In addition to addressing the circumstances of current residents, this phase aims to strengthen the regulatory infrastructure governing the entry and employment of migrant workers, enhancing institutional oversight and procedural integrity.
As part of its enforcement strategy, the ministry has begun restricting access to its systems for employers who have failed to update biometric records for their foreign employees. To date, 2,498 employers have been blocked due to non-compliance, according to official figures, the ministry said.
The homeland security ministry has affirmed its commitment to resolving the challenges posed by undocumented migrant labour. Operation Kurangi, along with its associated activities, is expected to culminate in a comprehensive resolution by April 2027.