Trade Minister Zulhas To Customs And Excise: Just Take Out PMI's Detained Goods

Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan requested that Customs and Excise issue goods sent by Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) who were detained at temporary hoarding sites (TPS).

The request is in line with the lifting of the PMI's number and type of goods restriction policy in Permendag Number 36 of 2023.

Zulhas, as Zulkifli Hasan is familiarly called, said that the rules regarding PMI's luggage were returned to the previous regulation, namely Permendag Number 25 of 2022.

As for the Minister of Trade Regulation Number 25 of 2022, PMI has the right to carry luggage worth 1,500 US dollars per year or equivalent to Rp. 24 million (assuming an exchange rate of Rp. 16,201 per dollar) without any restrictions on the amount and type of goods.

"What about the stuff that piled up? I said, earlier there were Customs and Excise friends, just consider all 1,500 US dollars issued. Let's just say it's worth 1,500 US dollars, just check it out. If there are no prohibited items, just take them out," he said when met at the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy Office, Jakarta, Tuesday, April 16.

Zulhas said that in a meeting with the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, BP2MI, and Customs and Excise, it was agreed that the rules regarding the number and type of goods were issued from Permendag Number 36 of 2023.

Furthermore, Zulhas said that the rules regarding the amount and type of luggage will be regulated by the Ministry of Finance through the Minister of Finance Regulation (PMK).

"First, the spirit of Permendag 36 to return to Permendag 25. Plus, only 1,500 PMI comes in, what kind of goods is Customs and Excise, that's PMK's business, it's not regulated by the Permendag anymore," he explained.