The High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the Maldives, Md Nazmul Islam, met with Ali Ihusaan, minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology of the Maldives, to discuss various aspects of the welfare, protection, regularisation and overall well-being of Bangladeshi expatriates working and residing in the country.
The meeting provided an opportunity for an extensive and constructive exchange of views on biometric registration, regularisation of undocumented expatriates, employment conditions, access to healthcare, remittance facilities, the safety and protection of women workers, and other matters relating to the expatriate community.
Both sides highlighted the importance of continued cooperation between Bangladesh and the Maldives to ensure that Bangladeshi nationals working in the Maldives have access to lawful employment, appropriate protection and essential services while contributing to the Maldivian economy and society.
During the meeting, Ali Ihusaan informed the high commissioner that approximately 98 per cent of expatriate workers in the Maldives have completed their biometric registration, reflecting substantial progress in the Government’s efforts to establish a comprehensive and verified registration system for foreign workers.
The high commissioner congratulated the minister and his team on this significant achievement, recognising the importance of biometric registration and verification in facilitating the regularisation and legal status of Bangladeshi expatriates. He observed that an effective registration system would help strengthen workers’ welfare, facilitate access to government services and provide a more structured framework for expatriate management.
The meeting also included a discussion on the opportunities available to undocumented expatriates seeking to regularise their status.
The minister explained that although the formal regularisation period has technically ended, individuals who are currently employed by a company but whose immigration or employment records remain incomplete may still have an opportunity to regularise their status. In such cases, employers can assist workers by communicating with the relevant immigration authorities, the Labour Relations Authority or the respective City Council.
The high commissioner welcomed this clarification and emphasised the importance of making such opportunities known to Bangladeshi expatriates and their employers so that eligible workers can take the necessary steps to complete their documentation in accordance with the applicable procedures.
Ali Ihusaan also shared the high commissioner on measures being undertaken to strengthen the accountability of companies employing foreign workers. These include penalties in cases where workers go missing or are not provided with the employment arrangements for which they were recruited. He further informed that instructions had been issued to facilitate the earliest possible repatriation of individuals held in detention.
The high commissioner highlighted several practical aspects of the daily lives and financial well-being of Bangladeshi expatriates. He noted that the principal purpose of most Bangladeshi workers coming to the Maldives is to earn a livelihood and support their families in Bangladesh. In this regard, facilitating the secure and convenient transfer of their earnings to their families remains an important aspect of expatriate welfare.
Dr. Md. Nazmul Islam requested the minister’s cooperation in facilitating faster, easier and more affordable remittance transfers through formal and authorised financial channels. The importance of developing accessible banking arrangements for expatriates was also discussed.
Nazmul Islam further requested the minister to consider appropriate measures to ensure that Bangladeshi workers receive their salaries in accordance with the foreign currency exchange rates and payment terms stipulated in their respective employment contracts.
He also highlighted the importance of expanding opportunities for expatriates to open bank accounts and exploring suitable arrangements that would enable them to remit an appropriate portion of their salaries to Bangladesh through formal banking channels.
These discussions formed part of the broader exchange on improving financial inclusion, facilitating the transfer of workers’ earnings and supporting their families in Bangladesh.
An important aspect of the meeting was the understanding reached on strengthening regular coordination between the Bangladesh High Commission and the Ministry of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology.
The minister informed the high commissioner that a coordination mechanism between the Ministry and the High Commission would be established to facilitate the timely identification and resolution of matters affecting Bangladeshi expatriates. He also indicated that efforts would be made to share island-wise information on undocumented expatriates, which would help the High Commission identify relevant cases, communicate available procedures and extend appropriate assistance.
Both sides also discussed organising joint awareness programmes for Bangladeshi expatriates through the initiatives of the Ministry and the High Commission. These programmes could provide practical information on biometric registration, regularisation procedures, employment rights and obligations, access to government services and the importance of following authorised procedures.
Nazmul Islam welcomed the proposed coordination mechanism and expressed the expectation that regular communication and information-sharing between the two institutions would further facilitate assistance to Bangladeshi nationals across different islands of the Maldives.
The meeting reflected the shared commitment of Bangladesh and the Maldives to strengthening cooperation on expatriate welfare, lawful employment, regularisation and the protection of migrant workers. The discussions also highlighted the importance of ensuring that Bangladeshi expatriates are well informed about the registration and employment frameworks of the Maldives and the opportunities available to them under the applicable procedures.
The Bangladesh High Commission reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining close engagement with the relevant Maldivian authorities and continuing its efforts to support the welfare, protection and well-being of Bangladeshi expatriates.
The meeting concluded in a warm and cordial atmosphere, with both sides expressing their commitment to maintaining regular communication and further strengthening institutional cooperation for the welfare and protection of the large Bangladeshi expatriate community in the Maldives.
