[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

THE MALDIVES (Tier 2) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report

The Government of Maldives does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so.  The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Maldives remained on Tier 2.  These efforts included convicting traffickers for the first time in two years.  The government also established new regulations requiring recruitment agencies to undergo training on employing foreign workers.  However, the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas.  The government did not proactively investigate trafficking crimes and did not identify any labor trafficking victims despite the prevalence of labor trafficking indicators among migrant workers in Maldives, and there was a continued lack of progress to address labor trafficking.  The government did not hold accountable government officials allegedly complicit in human trafficking crimes.  Victim identification and protection efforts remained weak and the government remained without official SOPs to refer victims to care.  The government did not adequately screen for trafficking indicators among migrant workers.  The government remained without shelters available for trafficking victims.

Prioritized Recommendations

Significantly increase proactive investigations and prosecutions of trafficking crimes, including labor trafficking, and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, which should involve significant prison terms.  

Increase efforts to identify trafficking victims, including among vulnerable groups such as foreign workers and undocumented migrants, through consistent use of the victim identification SOP. 

Increase training for front-line officials, including law enforcement, judges, labor inspectors, and immigration officials on investigating trafficking crimes, implementing the amended anti-trafficking law, and using the government’s victim identification SOP. 

Finalize, formally adopt, and consistently implement SOPs for victim referrals and support services. 

Significantly increase oversight of labor recruitment agencies and employers and refer cases involving trafficking indicators, such as non-payment of wages and passport retention, to police for criminal investigation. 

Increase cooperation with migrant source-country governments through memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and other measures to improve labor conditions for migrant workers. 

Allocate resources for proactive monitoring of resorts and guest homes for human trafficking. 

Ensure victims have access to shelter services, including medical care and psycho-social support, and provide services to both Maldivian and foreign victims. 

Ensure anti-trafficking materials are available in appropriate languages for migrant workers and provide access to adequate interpretation and translation services for trafficking victims. 

Investigate accusations of officials complicit in trafficking-related crimes, including in recruitment and the construction sector, and hold officials criminally accountable.