Twenty-one foreign workers who took part in a strike at a resort construction site in Kaafu Bolidhuffaru are in Immigration detention after their employer terminated their contracts and police handed them over for deportation.
The workers, mostly Bangladeshi with a small number of Indians, began protesting on 27 October over unpaid wages and other welfare concerns at the Mandarin Oriental development. Videos showed dozens of workers participating over three days. Aima Construction’s managing director, Ibrahim Abdul Azeez, confirmed that the company dismissed the identified group leaders because they protested.
Police said the workers were taken to the airport for repatriation. One left voluntarily; the remaining 21 refused to depart and were transferred to Maldives Immigration for disobeying orders. Immigration confirmed it is proceeding under standard procedures.
Transparency Maldives expressed concern, stating that the Constitution protects the right of workers to strike and that detaining participants in a peaceful labour protest raises questions of retaliation. The organisation called on Immigration, the Human Rights Commission and police to clarify the circumstances.
Work has resumed at the site. Aima said it is exploring ways for remaining workers to remit money home through banks. The incident has renewed discussion about labour rights for migrant workers in the construction sector and the practical limits on industrial action.