Bangladeshi workers not being paid in Maldives

Many Bangladeshi migrant workers in Maldives have not been paid their due wages and allowances by their companies and employers, Bangladesh High Commissioner in Maldives M Nazmul Hassan said yesterday.

"We came to know many companies or employers have kept you [migrant workers] unpaid. We have been discussing the matter with the Maldivian government regularly, and they are sincerely trying to resolve it," he said.

In a video message, the high commissioner urged Bangladeshi workers in the archipelago to not turn violent and get involved in vandalism but resolve the problem in a peaceful manner through discussion with their employers.

The message was posted on the high commission's social media page.

An economic recession resulting from the coronavirus pandemic has been prevailing across the globe and Maldives is not an exception, he said.

The economy of Maldives largely depends on the tourism sector. That is why coronavirus' impact on its economy has created an even bigger crisis, he said, adding that Bangladeshi migrant workers have remained unpaid amid this.

Hassan said the Maldivian government has been arranging two chartered flights each week to repatriate undocumented Bangladeshi workers.

However, besides undocumented workers, many of the regular or documented Bangladeshi workers have also applied via the high commission's social media page for repatriation, he said.

He urged them to have patience until regular communications between Bangladesh and Maldives resumes.

The Maldivian government is expected to open its border after July 15, he said, adding that regular workers will be able to travel to Bangladesh either on vacation or permanently once the flights resume.

He said the high commission in Maldives remains committed to serving Bangladeshis living there.

He also said so far three Bangladeshis have died after being infected with novel coronavirus in Maldives.