Male, Dec 20 

The Maldives government is looking to replace a large number of expatriate workers within a year in order to promote jobs for citizens, a media report said.

Speaking at a press conference Thursday, Abdullah Rifau, deputy youth minister, said the government's aim is to provide more jobs to locals rather than to expatriates, Haveeru Online reported.

Rifau said even though the country's laws prevent expatriates from being employed as cashiers, over 90 percent of cashiers in shops are foreigners.

The government was unable to strictly enforce the ban as it would have affected local businesses, Rifau added.

"Our target is to come up with ways to replace the foreigners working in Maldives at present. We are also engaged in discussions with foreign consulates over training," the report quoted Rifau as saying.c=6&cc=3&sc=1