Still Busy, Why is Thrifting Business Banned?

Dream - The Indonesian National Police (Polri) has partnered with the Directorate General of Customs and Excise and the Ministry of Trade to crack down on the sale of secondhand imported clothing (thrifting).

Brigadier General Ahmad Ramadhan, the Head of the Public Information Division of the Indonesian National Police, stated that they are ready to collaborate in following up on the sale of thrifting clothes.

"In principle, the Indonesian National Police is ready to cooperate and collaborate with relevant stakeholders, namely the Ministry of Trade and Customs and Excise," said Brigadier General Ahmad Ramadhan at the Indonesian National Police Headquarters in South Jakarta, as quoted from Liputan6.com, on Wednesday, March 15, 2023.

Protecting the Textile Industry of UMKM Players

Coordination with the Ministry of Trade has been carried out on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, in accordance with the applicable regulations.

"Of course, this is related to the enforcement of the business practices of secondhand imported clothing or thrifting, and this effort will certainly comply with the applicable regulations," said Ahmad.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs, Teten Masduki, also firmly rejects the buying and selling of secondhand imported clothes to protect the textile industry of UMKM players.

"We want to protect our UMKM products, especially in the textile and footwear sectors," said Teten Masduki.

Can Erode Job Opportunities

According to him, the importation of secondhand and illegal textile products is not in line with the Government's efforts to promote the consumption of local products through the National Movement for Proudly Made in Indonesia.

According to him, currently, the textile and footwear products produced by national UMKM players are able to compete. 

He also believes that the thrifting trend will erode job opportunities, as the textile industry is a labor-intensive industry that involves many workers.

"The smuggling of secondhand goods, including textile products, is, in my opinion, not in line with the Proudly Made in Indonesia movement, which aims to encourage the public to love and consume our own national creations, and the products being traded are also illegal," said Teten.

Therefore, Teten has asked customs and excise to tighten supervision regarding the entry of illegally imported secondhand clothes.

This prohibition is in accordance with the Minister of Trade Regulation Number 40 of 2022 concerning Amendments to the Minister of Trade Regulation Number 18 of 2021 concerning Prohibited Export Goods and Prohibited Import Goods.

"Actually, it's not difficult because we have already conducted an investigation, besides through social media, it can be found in Pasar Senen, Gedebage, and Pasar Baru. From there, it is easier to identify the importers," he said.