150,000 expatriates in Maldives complete biometric registration

COLOMBO, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu announced that 150,000 expatriates have completed biometric registration, which includes capturing 10 fingerprints and facial recognition photographs, said the President's Office on Thursday.

This initiative, launched in May 2024, aims to address the issue of undocumented workers in the Maldives, said the office.

In his message, the president noted that migrant workers constitute the majority of the country's labor force and underscored the importance of understanding their circumstances and working conditions.

He stated that establishing a comprehensive biometric identification system is a key step in addressing long-standing challenges concerning undocumented workers, and it is a significant milestone in the government's efforts to regulate and safeguard the rights of expatriates.

The Maldivian government aims to bring a permanent solution to the issue of illegal migrants in the Maldives by April 2027, and nearly 7,000 illegal migrants have been deported, local media reported on Thursday. ■