Employment of Foreigners With Work Permit On Local Fishing Vessels Permitted Under Certain Conditions

Today, the Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture made a public statement regarding the employment of foreigners on local fishing vessels – to actually allow foreigners partake in fishing activities. According the statement, the decision was come to after discussions with relevant stakeholders citing the frequent in involvement of undocumented expatriates in fishing activities in addition to shortage of locals to undertake certain jobs on fishing vessels.  

In addition to this, the employment of undocumented expatriates in fishing activities have left a bad impressions of the Maldivian fisheries industry in concern over the practice with retailers.  

However, the Ministry is allowing the involvement of foreigners in certain fishing-related activities with exception of actually fishing. In this regard, the Ministry will permit the employment two work permit holding foreigners on fishing vessels holding specific licenses such as export to foreign sources and licenses to supply fish to exporters and are pole-line fishing or Bluefin Tuna fishing.  Their work nevertheless shall be restricted to things like cooking, maintenance activities and cleaning.  

The Ministry states the restrictions imposed are for the benefit of the entire industry.