MALE: Over 8000 expatriate workers have registered in one month under the expatriate registration program initiated by human resources, youth and sports ministry, Minister Hassan Latheef has said. Speaking at the press conference held yesterday at Fanavess Maalum to brief the media on ministries activities and policies , minister Latheef said some 6737 expatriate workers has registered in Male’ in just one month.

Minister this includes 4041 expatriate workers with expired work permits, 2036 expatriate workers who have sought work on their own initiative, 2425 expatriate workers who works for parties other than the party who initially brought them to Maldives, 4440 expatriate workers who has no regular income, 1544 expatriate workers with no sleeping quarters, 1564 expatriate workers with no specific food arrangements , 30 expatriate workers who wants to return to their native country on their own expense, 709 expatriate workers who want to return to native country by any means and 5848 expatriate workers who wants to continue working in Maldives.

Minister Latheef further said some 1352 expatriate workers have registered through police stations in atolls. Out of the 1352 expatriate workers in the atolls, information of 882 workers have been obtained and information on the rest, 470, are being processed.

He further in addition to expatriate workers, employers are also being registered. In this regard, 214 people have registered as employers and 143 people have been registered as people who have quota.

Minister further noted that employers mostly want laborers and that 184 employers have requested for employers. He also highlighted none of expatriates registered have record of criminal offense. Further, 41 percent of the 171 people, who signed the petition which calls to end the expatriate registration program, are people blacklisted for bringing expatriate workers illegally.

Minister further said with program just a month old, 39 percent of the program has been completed.