The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology has launched a major data collection initiative for expatriates today under Operation Kurangi which will run from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with 75 Ministry officials participating in the exercise.

According to the Ministry, today's operation will focus on collecting information about expatriates working in the education sector, as well as foreign workers from several major companies. Ministry teams will be active not only in Male' but also in Thilafushi and Gulhifalhu.

The Ministry confirmed that the screening of foreign workers will be carried out by its Anti-TIP (Trafficking in Persons) office as part of this initiative.

To date, Operation Kurangi has collected biometric data from more than 18,000 expatriates working in the Maldives. The Ministry has previously reported that the work has commenced across 194 islands, with data collection already completed on 50 islands.

Operation Kurangi was launched on 2 May last year as the first phase of efforts to find a permanent solution to the issue of undocumented expatriates in the Maldives. The operation's primary objective is to address the challenges posed by illegal foreign workers in the country. As part of this initiative, officials verify whether foreign workers are employed in compliance with national laws and regulations, including the collection of their fingerprint data.

The data collection process has been established through biometric facilities at council offices throughout the country. The Minister of Homeland Security and Technology has previously announced that this information will be used to create a comprehensive national registry of expatriates.