In excess of 1,700 Indonesian maids are "languishing in different jails" around Saudi Arabia, most on alleged charges of immorality, while another 300 are sheltering in Indonesian Embassy shelters because of non-payment of wages or torture, it was reported on Thursday.

The English-language Arab News quoted Indonesian Embassy spokesman Hendrar Pramutyo as saying the Saudi government admitted that 1,179 female housemaids had been detained during talks between Indonesian Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Muhaimin Askandar and Saudi Labor Minister Adel Fakieh.

"Most of these domestic workers were handed down jail terms on alleged charges of immorality," Hendrar told the newspaper. He added that in the majority of cases the housemaids were arrested for breaching laws whereby unmarried women are barred from traveling with males.

Pramutyo was also quoted as saying that the Indonesian diplomatic missions in Riyadh and Jeddah were attempting to speed up the repatriation of about 300 maids taking shelter in safe houses.

"Most of them are run-away workers, seeking refuge in the missions mainly because of the non-payment of salary or torture," the Arab News paraphrased Pramutyo as saying.