In the past 12 months Transparency Maldives has contacted 560 migrant workers, many of those with ongoing cases. Their main complaints include withholding of passports and documents preventing workers from travelling, poor living conditions and delay or non-payment of wages.
Living quarters for expatriate workers in Male’ -the most densely populated capital in the world with an estimated 140,000 people living in 2 square kilometers – are very cramped. It is the norm for 50 plus migrant workers to sleep in 8 hour shifts, in 20×10 ft spaces.