Jokowi Bans Thrifting, National Police Chief: Strict Action On Import Of Used Clothes

Traders organize used imported clothes aka Thrifting at Pasar Senen, Jakarta, Friday 17 February 2023. (ANTARA-Fauzan)

JAKARTA - National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo ordered all ranks of the National Police to take firm action against the practice of smuggling imported used clothes or Thrifting which is now rife in the market.

This was in response to President Joko Widodo's outrage over the import of used clothes that disrupted the domestic textile industry.

"Regarding the President's instructions, I have instructed the ranks to carry out an examination," Sigit told reporters, Jakarta, Sunday, March 19.

Sigit said that his party would look for sources of smuggling imported used clothing. He emphasized that if a later investigation found any smuggling practices, the authorities would not hesitate to take firm action against anyone.

"If later found there is smuggling, which is indeed prohibited by the government, I ask for strict action," he said.

This firm action, said Sigit, is a commitment from the ranks of the National Police in order to oversee and secure all government policy programs in order to maintain domestic economic growth. One of them is to protect the domestic market.

"We, the ranks of the National Police institution, must really be able to oversee what is the President's policy," said Sigit.

As previously reported, President Jokowi said imports of used clothes greatly disrupted the development of the domestic industry.

"I have ordered to find the truth and many people have met every two days. It interferes with the domestic textile industry," said President Joko Widodo after attending the inauguration of the opening of the 2023 Domestic Product "Business Matching" in Jakarta Wednesday, March 15.

Used clothes are goods that are prohibited from being imported based on the Regulation of the Minister of Trade Number 18 of 2021 as amended by the Regulation of the Minister of Trade Number 40 of 2022 concerning Amendments to the Regulation of the Minister of Trade Number 18 of 2021 concerning Prohibited Exports and Goods Prohibited from Imports.

"It is very disturbing, the import of used clothes is disturbing, very disturbing to our domestic industry," said Jokowi.

The government says used clothing is prohibited from being imported because it has a bad impact on the domestic economy, especially MSMEs, and is also bad for the health of its users.

To prevent imports of goods, including used clothes, President Jokowi also asked for adjustments to the performance allowance indicators for ministries/agencies and BUMN/BUMD.

"Earlier, I conveyed the performance allowance of one of the things seen from the purchase of domestic products, from ministries, institutions, provincial governments, regencies, cities, BUMN/BUMD. The sanctions will be formulated later, the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investments," he concluded.