Human Rights Commission (HRCM) has called for harsher punishments to those who infringe the rights of expatriates living in this country.
On celebration of the International Migrants Day, HRCM released a statement saying that their were many cases in the Maldives where expatriates have been stripped of their rights.
HRCM said that many expatriates were being subject to rights violations noting that Maldives has now been placed as a second tier country on the United States Human Trafficking Watch list.
The countries on these watch list are particularly well observed by officials.
The statement said that it was apparent that expatriates in the Maldives have faced inhumane experiences under Maldivians who have forced them to work without salary, threatened them and holding back their paperwork among various other problems.
The commission declared that as expatriate rights are also protected in the constitution, that those laws must be upheld and executed. The commission advised officials to investigate such cases and to take the harshest possible action against those who commit such crimes.
While the expatriates living in the Maldives are connected to the Maldivian lifestyle, HRCM has advised the public to treat them with respect.
The International Migrants Day is celebrated every year on December 18th around the globe.
