Can Lose The Domestic MSME Market, Menkop UKM Will Close Thrifting Clothing In Online Stores

JAKARTA - The trend of importing used clothes from abroad or known as thrifting is increasingly widespread in Indonesia. The trend has also mushroomed on e-commerce to social media. Responding to this, Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Teten Masduki said his party would reprimand e-commerce which accommodates the sale of the used imported clothes.

"If (the sale of used clothes) is in e-commerce, we will reprimand, if on social media it is a bit difficult," he said during a discussion at the Office of the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), South Jakarta, Monday, March 13.

Teten emphasized that his party strongly rejected the entry of used imported clothes, including for shoes. Because, according to him, this trend can erode the domestic MSME market and have an impact on reducing employment opportunities.

"In my opinion, this is not in line with the proud movement made in Indonesia. So, our argument to refuse the entry of used clothes, used shoes is very strong. We want to protect MSME products," he said.

On the same occasion, Deputy for Small and Medium Enterprises of the Ministry of Cooperatives of SMEs Hanung Harimba Rahman said that his party would urge e-commerce owners to close online stalls selling clothes used for illegal imports.

"Later, we urge e-commerce to be closed, because of their commitment to comply with government policies," he said.

Hanung revealed that the rise of illegal imported clothes entered Indonesia because of small ports in various regions. He hopes that the Ministry of Finance's Directorate of Customs and Excise (Kemenkeu) will be more intensive in supervising the import of illegal clothes.

According to Hanung, there are other ways that can be done to prevent illegal imported clothes, one of which is by tracing existing traders.

"The seller, right, where did the imports come from, it's easy to trace, the seller is clear, where to buy them, the imports are easy to trace," he added.