Capacity Development in Migration Management in the Maldives

Maldives is a destination country for migrant workers, principally unskilled. Many face conditions indicative of forced labour with long working hours, non-payment of wages and withholding of travel documents. A modest number of foreign women are subject to sex trafficking and some local children are trafficked to the capital Male from other islands for domestic work.

The overall goal of the project is to contribute to strengthening the efforts and capacity building of the Government of Maldives and non-governmental actors on migration management. Expected outcomes are (a) enhanced capacity of migration/border officials on adequate labour migration procedures and knowledge on human trafficking and smuggling, and (b) improved protection of migrant workers and victims of trafficking (VoTs) through establishment of victim referral and assistance mechanisms through training and support.

Project activities will include: identifying, mapping and training Counter-Trafficking (CT) Service Providers; training frontline border control officials on CT and people smuggling; a study visit to Bangladesh where an action plan for a pre-departure screening facility for Bangladeshi labour migrants to the Maldives will be developed; supporting the newly established women and children’s shelter for victims of trafficking through training and refurbishment; and working with stakeholders to develop a Standard Operational Procedure for the safe and efficient referral, protection and assistance of VoTs.