Expelling illegal foreign workers will benefit economy - Janah

The expelling of illegal foreign workers will greatly benefit the Maldives economy, according to President Maldives Association of Construction Industry (MACI) Mohamed Ali Janah.

Speaking on Wednesday, Janah said the program launched current government to expel all illegal foreign workers in the country will be beneficial to the country’s economy in many ways and that the Immigration Authorities free deportation program targeting illegal workers who give themselves up voluntarily is very effective. He the program has increased the number of illegal workers leaving the country. Janah further said this will be rewarding for investors, companies and small construction groups and that rewards will be seen in the near future.

“The program launched by the present government to expel illegal foreign workers in very successful, this will bring huge benefits to small construction groups and companies in times to come” Janah said.

MACI President further said MACI has repeated called on companies and small groups to collaborate with the government as such action will be beneficial not only to construction industry but to the entire economy.

“Instead allowing the illegal workers to send out their ill gotten profits back to their country, we must retain it in our country, if this can be done the country’s economy as well as other things will improve” Janah said.

The deadline given by Immigration for all illegal foreign workers will lapse by 1 April 2009. This was revealed in news release issued by the department on the 28 of last month.

The news release issued by Department of Immigration and Emigration expressed that illegal expatriates wishing to leave the country voluntarily within the given period, will be provided with means to return their native country , once they arrive at the Department along with their passports.

Department has said illegal expatriates staying on in the country beyond 1 April will be prosecuted under the law. The Department further said employers of such illegal expatriates will also be prosecuted.

Some 80,000 foreigners are working in the country and more than 20,000 are working illegally, according to concerned authorities.

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