The wave of imports of used clothes was stopped by the government. President Joko Widodo emphasized that the practice of buying and selling imported used clothing, which is currently rife in Indonesia, is prohibited. The Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan and the Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs Teten Masduki are also intensively conducting market operations by raiding and taking action on imported used clothing at various points. The Plt Director General of the Ministry of Trade's PKTN, Moga Simatupang, said that used clothes were actually illegally prohibited and the industry had been screaming for a long time. Even imported used clothing is said to have controlled 31% of the apparel market in Indonesia.
Moga said that the presence of imported used clothing had worried hundreds of thousands of Textile MSME players. Moga further explained that the practice of importing used clothes has actually been regulated by law. This means that those who are still acting as used clothing importers can be prosecuted as lawbreakers.
"Yes, of course what kind of regulatory mandate. We carry it out," he said.
Meanwhile, the coordinator of used clothing traders at Pasar Senen, Rivai Silalahi, denied that imports of used clothing had an impact on domestic textile MSMEs. As a trader, he sees that imports of ready-to-wear clothes are the main cause of the damage to the textile industry in Indonesia.
"If you say actual imports, what percentage is the influence of the import of used clothes compared to what he said affects local products? No. It's only zero point a certain percentage. What has the biggest influence is actually imported apparel products from China. China, Bangladesh , India, that's the biggest," said Rivai.
According to his experience, the income he earns from selling local clothes is not comparable to selling imported used clothes. This is because, according to him, domestic textile clothing is still less competitive than foreign apparel.
"So if you say it kills MSMEs, it doesn't. What kills MSMEs is 80% of the newly imported clothes. That kills, not this," he added, pointing to his merchandise.
