Minister of Defence Mariya Ahmed Didi has claimed the expatriate protests are fueled by political motives, rather than unpaid wages and human rights violations.
Speaking at the Parliamentary Committee on National Security and Foreign Relations, Defence Minister Mariya highlighted the attacks on police officers as well as the property damage carried out across expatriate protests in Bodufinolhu, Baa Atoll and Hulhumale’. The minister expressed belief the protests are fueled by political motives rather than unpaid wages and human rights violations. She stated national security is under threat due to these events.
The defence minister also stated certain people are attempting to display expatriates in the Maldives as victims of human trafficking. She denied the human trafficking claims, citing Maldivian laws and UN protocols.
Speaking at the committee, Chief of Defence Force Major General Abdulla Shamaal expressed concerns over the growing number of expatriates in the Maldives. Noting there are approximately 250,000 expatriates in the Maldives, including 66,000 undocumented workers, Shamaal said the numbers carry a threat to national security as they are outnumbering the youth population of the Maldives. He said MNDF is working with the relevant authorities to resolve the issue by devising an action plan with stringent measures.
While senior ranking officials of the administration claim the expatriate protests are fueled by political motives, the protesters have only demanded their employers to pay their wages as agreed. The expatriates who protested in Bodufinolhu revealed they have not been paid for at least 7 months.