"We are still in the revision process, and hopefully, it will not take much time and can accommodate the needs of our migrant workers,"Jakarta (ANTARA) - Head of the Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Agency (BP2MI), Benny Rhamdani, suggested President Joko Widodo to increase the nominal value of import duty exemption for goods belonging to Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI).
When met at his office on Tuesday, Rhamdani spoke of having submitted a proposal to increase the migrant workers goods' tax-free nominal amount, from the current US$1,500 after attending a limited meeting to discuss Regulation of Trade Minister Number 36 of 2023 concerning Policy and Import Regulation on April 16, 2024.
"I hope our proposal can be granted by President Widodo. The letter has been sent," he remarked.
Rhamdani affirmed that his request for additional exemption from import duty on goods shipped by migrant workers is a form of the state's appreciation for migrant workers considered as foreign exchange heroes.
The proposed increase also refers to the example set by the Philippines that provides a tax-free value of up to US$2,800 for its migrant workers.
"We are still in the revision process, and hopefully, it will not take much time and can accommodate the needs of our migrant workers," he affirmed.
At a press conference on April 16, 2024, after a limited meeting with ministries and institutions regarding the implementation of Minister of Trade Regulation Number 36 of 2023, Rhamdani confirmed that the rule for goods belonging to migrant workers to be exempt from import duty, with a value of US$1,500, would return to effect.
On the same occasion, he urged the government to increase the nominal import duty, from US$1,500 to US$2,500.
He stated that Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, had supported BP2MI's proposal to increase the nominal import duty exemption.
The regulation is currently being revised by the government as a whole and not only on migrant workers' goods.
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Translator: Prisca Triferna V, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Arie Novarina
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