"The DPR appreciates and is thankful for their return. The government has worked in good coordination in taking care of the Indonesian citizens," Irgan said at Tanjung Priok Seaport here Wednesday, upon the arrival of the Labobar ship carrying 2,353 migrant workers (TKIs) from Saudi Arabia.
The Labobar arrived at Tanjung Priok seaport on Wednesday at around 4.30 am local time, after sailing from Jidda, Saudi Arabia, since April 22, 2011.
Colonel Nugroho Mujiyanto, head of the TKIs repatriation team, officially handed over the task and responsibility for taking care of the just arrived TKIs to Lisna Y Poeloengan, Deputy of the National Agency for Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers Overseas (BNP2TKI)`s Protection Unit.
BNP2TKI is now responsible for returning the TKIs to their respective hometowns.
Irgan, cocurrently the deputy chairman of the DPR`s Commission IX, said he had supervised closely the process of returning the TKIs, from their departure in Jidda Airport until their arrival in Tanjungpriok.
"Everything has run smoothly, well and safely," Irgan, who was in Saudi Arabia on April 19-24, said.
It was the 7th stage of the repatriation of troubled TKIs who had overstayed in Saudi, so far. The government has taken home some 2,073 overstayed TKIs from Saudi in six stages since February 14 to March 19 by Garuda airplanes.
The 2,349 Indonesians consisted of 2,132 adult female migrant workers, 31 adult male workers, 122 pregnant workers, 93 children and 93 infants.
However, on the way from Jidda to Jakarta on board of the Labobar ship, the number increased to 2,352 people because four babies were born and one female migrant worker passed away because of illness.
(Uu.F001/HAJM)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
