Head of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) for Saudi Arabia Sherief Rachmat confirmed about 500 of the 7,800 "overstayers" in Jawazat Tarhil Sumaysi, Saudi Arabia, left for home at noon.
"Thank God, the overstayers, who comprise mothers, the elderly, children and infants, did not have to pay the flight fare. The government took care of it," he said.
PDIP cadres, such as Djumara Dzikri (Mey) Hasani Noor and Sharief Rachmat, have teamed up with volunteers and activists to help the "overstayers".
They assisted the "overstayers" in preparing amnesty documents, helped those who gathered at the Palestine bridge street in Jidda and monitored the departure of those staying at Jawazat Tarhil, Sumaysi, at the KAAIA airport.
"God willing, another flight with 404 women, children and infants will take off at midnight," Mom Helda, another volunteer, said.
The Saudi government had set a deadline of November 3 for the "overstayers" to finish preparing their travel documents.
Following the end of the amnesty period, the Saudi authorities raided locations housing workers without permits.
On the first day of the raids, about 7,500 Indonesian workers were transferred to the Tarhil detention house.
A press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday said about 101,067 Indonesian workers in Saudi Arabia did not have valid permits.
Of these, 95,262 have applied for SPLP (passport) documents.
Before the amnesty program deadline ended, 17,259 had obtained permits to continue working in Saudi Arabia and 6,257 were provided official documents to return to Indonesia.
Still others are expected to be arrested for deportation.
(Edited by INE)
(A014/KR-BSR/B003)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
