The Ministry Of Trade's Clarification Regarding The Detention Of PMI's Goods: There Was A Misunderstanding

BETWEEN PHOTOs/Aswaddy Hamid/Spt

JAKARTA - The public is still busy highlighting the detention of goods sent by Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) in a logistics warehouse. The Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) said there was a misunderstanding that resulted in a buildup of goods at the Temporary Hoarding Site (TPS), Tanjung Emas, Semarang, Central Java.

The Director General of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Budi Santoso, said that during a surprise inspection (sidak) on Thursday (4/4), it was revealed that PMI's stored luggage was a newly arrived item. For this reason, the Ministry of Trade will coordinate further with BP2MI to respond to the misunderstanding.

"The goods that are stuck at the TPS are not old goods, but goods that have just arrived. There are also indications that the goods in the name of PMI actually do not belong to PMI and the number exceeds the regulated limits," Budi said in a statement in Jakarta, Sunday, as reported by Antara.

Budi conveyed that the Regulation of the Minister of Trade (Permendag) Number 36 of 2023 concerning Import Policy and Regulations provides convenience as well as a fair and effective solution for Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) who will send goods to families in Indonesia.

The government is trying to provide a fair and effective solution to expedite the process of sending PMI goods to Indonesia by issuing Permendag Number 36 of 2023 jo. Permendag Number 3 of 2024.

For certain groups of goods, goods can be imported in new or non-new conditions with a certain amount and are excluded from the obligation to have an import permit from the Ministry of Trade.

Budi hopes that PMI can understand and comply with these provisions, so that there are no obstacles in the import process of PMI-submitted goods.

"We hope that the ease and exception of the import policy of PMI goods sent by PMI can be understood and obeyed by PMI so that the process of sending PMI goods can run smoothly, arrive immediately, and be accepted by family and relatives in Indonesia," said Budi.

The Ministry of Trade together with ministries and institutions, including BP2MI, determines certain groups of goods and the amount that can be imported as PMI-submitted goods in new and new conditions that are exempt from import permits.

This provision already considers all related aspects and interests, among others, to minimize imports of goods in new conditions that have the potential to carry germs and diseases that will disrupt aspects of security, health, and human safety as well as the environment.

In addition, so as not to interfere with the performance of the domestic industry, especially the labor-intensive small and medium industry (IKM) sector which is heavily affected by the flood of imported goods.