Government Issues New Rules For Sending Indonesian Migrant Workers

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The government has issued the latest regulations through the Minister of Finance Regulation (PMK) Number 141 of 2023 concerning Provisions for Importing Indonesian Migrant Workers' Goods.

This rule will provide convenience in shipping goods from abroad (imports) belonging to Indonesian Migrant Workers and has been promulgated on December 11, 2023.

This regulation contains several main things, such as the provision for exemption from shipping duties, passenger luggage in the form of cellphones, handheld computers, and tablets (HKT), as well as transfer items.

The Ministry of Finance also encourages and synergizes with the Ministry of Trade to provide relaxation of the provisions for prohibition and restrictions on imports of PMI-submitted goods.

Prior to the special regulation, the delivery of goods for Indonesian Migrant Workers refers to the general regulation of shipping goods, namely PMK Number 96 of 2023 concerning Customs, Excise and Tax Provisions on Imports and Exports of Delivery Goods.

In accordance with these provisions, the exemption from import duties is only given to goods with a maximum customs value of free on board (FOB) of 3 US dollars per shipment, and the treatment of provisions on prohibition/restrictions following the provisions of the security of public goods according to the rules of the Ministry/Institutions (K/L) of sector supervisors.

"For Indonesian Migrant Workers, this provision is considered limited, so a new rule is needed that is looser. This rule is also the government's appreciation and support for the contribution of Indonesian Migrant Workers in contributing to state foreign exchange," said the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) of the Ministry of Finance, Nirwala Dwi Heryanto in his official statement, Tuesday 12 December.

The placement of workers abroad can provide a variety of benefits. In addition to foreign exchange, the income earned by the workers is mostly sent to Indonesia (remittance), which has an impact on changes in people's social and economic conditions.

Every year since 2020, the contribution of remittance has continued to increase, each at Rp135.7 trillion in 2020, in 2021 at Rp136.5 trillion, and Rp139.4 trillion in 2022.

Through the latest regulations, the Government will provide some convenience, either fiscal or procedural in shipping goods by Indonesian Migrant Workers.

Different from before, currently the exemption from import duties will be given to shipping goods with a maximum customs value of 500 US dollars. With a note, shipments of goods are made a maximum of 3 times a year for workers registered with BP2MI, and a maximum of 1 time for workers other than being registered with BP2MI.

If the value of goods is more than 500 US dollars, it will be subject to import duties on the difference according to applicable regulations. In addition, this is determined to encourage the administrative order of migrant workers in the institutions that oversee it," said Nirwala.

Nirwala added that the exemption from import duties would also be given to passenger luggage in the form of HKT and transfer items.

In the regulation, there is a special policy for HKT migrant workers through a passenger luggage scheme, which will be granted exemption from import duties to a maximum of 2 HKT units for 1 arrival in 1 year.

As for the transferred goods, the import duty will be granted by referring to the provisions of the legislation regarding the import of transferred goods.

In the field, shipments of goods from abroad involve several parties including DJBC as a physical examination of goods.

In its task, DJBC is only authorized to check, while the readiness of goods before inspection and packaging to delivery of goods is the authority of the post organizers.

In the event that the goods have not been received or received in an inappropriate condition, the recipient of the goods can confirm with the post organizers.

"However, regarding the status of the inspection of goods in Customs, the sender or recipient of goods can conduct a search through www.beacuga.go.id/delivery," explained Nirwala.

The government is committed to providing ease of service for the community, including Indonesian Migrant Workers.

This new rule is expected to be implemented well in the field, help smooth the flow of goods sent by migrant workers, and have a positive impact on the national economic turnover