The number of runaway Indonesian maids increased by 30 in two weeks since July 20, bringing the total to 258 this year, according to consulate officials.

Muchtar, Consul General of Indonesia, said the spike in the number of cases was due to some administrative misunderstanding.

"Many of the maids initially sought help from our embassy in Abu Dhabi, but upon investigation, the officials found that their sponsors were from Dubai, at which point they referred the cases to us," he said.

He said there were still many cases of absconding maids at present as the law passed by the Indonesian Government to oversee the recruitment of domestic workers only took effect in June.

The law requires recruitment agencies from a host country and Indonesia to inform the Indonesian Government when they hire someone.

"It's still too soon to see the effectiveness of the new law," Muchtar said. Senior officers with the Indonesian Consulate told Gulf News 240 cases have been resolved while 18 are still pending, either in or out of court.

Muchtar said they were trying to reach an "amicable solution" to the problem between the absconding maids and their employers.

He said most of the domestic workers preferred to settle out of court.

"The question is what is the best way for us is to protect our citizens," he said.

Muchtar added many of the maids left because they were either unpaid or underpaid for their work.

A consulate officer involved in labour issues said most of the runaway maid cases involved maids who have been "overworked" by their employers, citing lack of training on the part of the maids.

"These maids were unprepared when they came to the UAE," the officer said.

Officers said other reasons for running away include homesickness and culture shock.

Four hundred maids ran away from their employers last year, according to consulate figures.

The Indonesian Labour Ministry last year reported 330,000 Indonesians are currently working in South East Asia and the Middle East as maids, with plans to send an additional 300,000 overseas for work this year.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, has a population of 220 million people with more than 11 million people unemployed.