TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government has decided to repeal the regulations that previously restricted migrant workers' carry-on goods from aboard, as stipulated in the Trade Minister’s Regulation (Permendag) No. 36 of 2023 on import policies and regulations.

The policy was issued after a closed-door meeting attended by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan, and Director of Communications and User Guidance for Customs and Excise Services Nirwala Dwi Heryanto at the office of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs on Tuesday, April 16.

Benny Rhamdani, Head of the Indonesian Agency for the Protection of Migrant Workers (B2PMI), explained that the regulations on this matter were reverted to the Trade Minister’s Regulation No. 25 of 2022 on the amendments to the Trade Minister’s Regulation No. 20 of 2021.

“This means that the restrictions on migrant workers’ goods are interpreted as tax relief at US$1,500,” Benny said after the meeting.

Hence, the goods that migrant workers could bring back to Indonesia are no longer restricted, but they have a maximum value of US$1,500 per year. Benny said the move would make things much more convenient for migrant workers and customs officials.

With this regulation, excess goods will no longer be sent back to the country of origin. If the goods exceed US$1,500, the remainder will be considered general luggage, which is subject to tax.

Benny said that many of the migrant workers' luggage had been deemed to be in violation of the regulations and had been detained by the Directorate General of Customs and Excise thus far. He added that approximately 51-57% of the goods stuck at the port belong to migrant workers.

RIANI SANUSI PUTRI

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