Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Hopes for a policy reversal on imported second-hand clothing have been shut down after Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa firmly rejected a proposal to legalize thrifting.
Speaking after a meeting with House of Commission IX at the Senayan parliamentary complex on Thursday, Purbaya said there would be no follow-up to the request submitted by a thrift traders' association through the House of Representatives.
"Thrifting has no further process," Purbaya told reporters, stressing that the government remains committed to the existing import ban. He added that the priority now is fixing the performance of the Customs and Excise Office, which oversees all incoming and outgoing goods.
Purbaya said he was instructed to clean up the agency and ensure stricter supervision. "Everything must be checked. Goods everywhere must be stopped if they violate the rules. Those exporting must not cheat so the government revenue is maximized," he said.
The minister also noted that oversight is being tightened not only on used apparel but across broader sectors, including textiles, footwear, steel, and other commodities. "We've developed a better IT system. It should be safer going forward," he added.
The remarks were delivered in response to House Commission IX member Thoriq Majiddanor, who relayed appeals from thrift traders nationwide. On Wednesday, representatives of the association visited the legislature's Public Aspirations Office seeking the legalization of used apparel imports, which they said has long been their livelihood.
Thoriq acknowledged the government's firm stance, citing that used clothing imports remain prohibited under Trade Ministry Regulation No. 40/2022. However, he pressed the government to investigate alleged illegal levies involving rogue officials.
Traders claimed they were charged between Rp 500 million ($30k) and Rp 550 million per container to bring in banned second-hand goods. "They said, 'Sir, we pay Rp 500-550 million per container.' This has gone viral everywhere, TV, social media. It creates the perception that the root of the problem is not being addressed," Thoriq said.
Thoriq reminded that the ban has been in place since 2015 and further strengthened in recent years, but major enforcement only intensified recently, prompting speculation and public distrust. "We hope that if there are indeed rogue actors, they must be dealt with firmly and based on accurate data so this issue doesn't keep rolling," he said.
With Purbaya's firm rejection, the thrifting association's push to restore legality appears to have reached a dead end, while the government shifts its focus toward clamping down on illegal imports and strengthening customs oversight.