Twenty-one expatriate workers have been detained at the Immigration Detention Centre after resisting deportation following a strike over unpaid wages.
The workers were employed at a resort development project in Kaafu Bolidhuffaru lagoon. More than 100 people are estimated to have joined the protest over wages and other conditions.
Police took 22 expatriates to the airport for repatriation. Twenty-one were later handed to Maldives Immigration for disobeying lawful orders. Immigration said measures would be taken under established procedures.
Transparency Maldives called for the deportation decision to be reversed, stating that workers have the constitutional right to strike and protest and should not face retaliation for exercising those rights.
The case highlights ongoing tensions around foreign labour conditions in the construction and tourism sectors.