Indonesian industry calls for crackdown on upstream importers of used clothing

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Around the issue of second-hand clothing (thrifting) imports, the Finance Minister recently reiterated that the government will continue to combat illegal imports and rejected proposals to legalize them by paying taxes, stressing that the key is the legitimacy of the goods and not the tax.However, public opinion has questioned whether the existing law enforcement measures have touched the source and jeopardized the livelihood of small traders at the grassroots instead.

Indonesia has long had regulations restricting the importation of second-hand clothing toProtecting consumer health and safetyThe Job Creation Act 2020 further strengthens the relevant controls. However, enforcement often focuses on small traders in traditional markets, who only buy from suppliers rather than being directly involved in imports.Upstream importers not effectively held accountableViolationsThe principle of administrative proportionalityThe

Many small traders are not aware ofLegal boundaries, health standards or legally tradable mechanismsInstead of operating in a gray area and violating the legal clarity of goods required by the Consumer Protection Act, they become victims of uncertainty. For the large number of traders who rely on thrifting to support their families and consumers who are looking for affordable clothing, across-the-board enforcement is likely to widen the distance between the government and the public, and to ignore the importance of the policy.Socio-economic impactsThe

Public opinion suggests that enforcement should be targetedUpstream importersDeveloping a viableHygiene standards and certification mechanisms for second-hand clothingand provideTransition and educational arrangementsThe Government should help small traders to make gradual adjustments. Only by striking a balance between legality and the protection of small groups can a policy maintain order and reflect social justice.

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