41 migrant workers have been arrested so far after confrontations with police on Monday during a protest due to unpaid wages by Island Expert Company.

Police said that today morning a group of expatriate workers confronted police officers with violence and damaged police property when the police attended to a protest in Hulhumale'. The protesters threw bricks towards the police officers who attended the scene and injured several police officers.

"When the Maldives Police Service received information about this, a team from Public Safety and Response Unit of Special Operations Department were deployed to the scene. A total of 41 expatriate workers have been arrested in relation to this and they are now under investigation for criminal offences," police said in their statement.

They strongly condemned violent behaviors that put life and property of the public and security services at risk and assured the public that strict legal action will be taken against those who commit such violence and unlawful activities.

"We would also like to inform you that we will not hesitate to take legal action against anyone who promotes or commit violence in these situations," the statement added.

They further advised not to resort to violence in the name of industrial conflicts and requests everyone to seek legal measures to resolve issues such as unpaid wages and other contractual disagreements between employees and employers.