25,000 Nepalis return from Saudi Arabia

DOHA (QATAR), AUG 23 - Around 25,000 Nepali migrants, working illegally in Saudi Arabia , have return ed home under the amnesty programme introduced by the Saudi government, according to the Nepali Embassy in Riyadh.

The embassy has said nearly 30,000 others have secured travel documents and are looking forward to leaving the country. The undocumented migrants still have nearly two months to either leave the country, or apply for legal status and keep working there.

The government introduced a three-month amnesty programme in May. The duration was later extended by four months until November 3.

According to the Saudi government estimates, there are around two million illegal migrants in the country, around 70,000 of whom are said to be Nepalis.

"So far we have issued 284 temporary passports for those wishing to stay and continue working by changing employment sponsorship. A majority of Nepalis living in the country illegally have decided to leave," said Nepali Ambassador Uday Raj Pandey.

Some of the Nepalis, meanwhile, are having problems leaving the country, though they already received exit permit. The embassy said such cases are associated with the people involved in litigation or facing criminal charges.

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