The Government has amended the Employment of Foreigners in Maldives Regulations to remove babysitters from the list of restricted occupations.

The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology gazetted the amendment on Sunday, introducing phased quotas for foreign workers in certain occupations. Babysitters were initially included in the restricted list, sparking concern among families who rely on expatriate childcare due to the absence of extended family support.

A notice published in the Gazette on Wednesday confirmed that babysitters have now been excluded from the ban.

Expatriates, however, remain barred from working in several roles, including:

The amendment also sets deadlines for phasing out quotas in other occupations:

Many expatriates are already employed in these roles, particularly as hairdressers, beauticians, nurses, and teachers.

Immigration authorities continue to conduct raids to identify foreigners working illegally and businesses operating without permits. The Government has pledged to resolve the issue of illegal expatriate workers within the first three years of its term.