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After a series of delays, a key agreement between Indonesia and Malaysia on protecting migrant workers could be signed as early as this month, a top Indonesian official said.

Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar said on Wednesday there was only one issue left to wrangle over before the deal was finalized.

“The only problem left now is the cost of sending Indonesian workers to Malaysia,” he said.

Ties between the countries have been strained after a string of alleged abuses against Indonesian domestic workers came to light, prompting Indonesia in June 2009 to impose a moratorium on sending more workers to Malaysia pending a new agreement on their protection.

Despite the moratorium, however, Indonesians are still flocking to Malaysia illegally, while allegations of abuse and ill-treatment continue to abound.

In the latest reported case, Sumini, a 23-year-old maid from Cilacap, Central Java, claimed this week that she had been tortured and raped by her employer in Malaysia, who also failed to pay her 19 months of wages.

“I was raped [by my employer] when his wife left the house to drop off their three kids at school on Monday,” she said, adding that her boss had pretended to go to work but instead came back and broke into her room.

“I couldn’t stand his behavior,” the 23-year-old said. “I hadn’t been paid in 19 months, and then I was raped, so I ran away.”

Sumini also said her employer had threatened her not to tell anyone about the sexual assault.

With the help of an Indonesian construction worker named Zaki, who lived nearby, she ran away and reported her case to Permai, a community group for Indonesians living abroad.

Machrodji Magfur, the chairman of Permai Malaysia, then took her to the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

Agus Triyanto, the embassy’s manpower attache, said Sumini had been taken to a hospital there and had also filed a police report against her employer.

“She remains quite weak and is still traumatized,” Agus said, adding that Sumini could return to her hometown once she had recuperated.

He added that the embassy was currently trying to mediate with the family that employed Sumini to secure payment of her back wages, while the authorities are investigating the rape complaint.

“We’re monitoring the local police’s investigation of the case,” Agus said. “Meanwhile, Sumini remains under our protection.”

Sumini was employed by the family in November 2008 on a monthly salary of 500 ringgit ($158).

“However, they told me they’d hold onto my salary and only give it to me once I returned to Indonesia,” she said. “I want the Indonesian Embassy to help get me my 19 months’ worth of salary and settle the case.”