The Indonesian government on Wednesday suspended sending migrant workers to Saudi Arabia effective as of August 1, until both countries had reached an agreement to better protect the workers.

The Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration, in a news release obtained by the Jakarta Globe, said the moratorium would remain in place until the countries had "signed an MoU on the protection of Indonesian migrant workers" and "a joint task-force is established."

The move comes a day after the House of Representatives (DPR) gave an ultimatum to the government to suspend sending workers to Saudi Arabia until better protections had been implemented.

The House recommendation was spurred by the beheading of Ruyati, a female worker who was sentenced to death after admitting that she brutally murdered her female employer. There were allegations that Ruyati was being held against her will.

Saudi Arabia has apologized for not informing Indonesian authorities about the imminent execution. Reports of abuse, even murder, of Indonesian maids in Saudi Arabia are common.