Indonesia's UMKM Ministry

Indonesia's Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (UMKM), led by Minister Maman Abdurrahman, announced on 1 December 2025 that it will seek a middle‑ground solution to protect thrifting sellers, i.e., vendors of second‑hand clothing, in Jakarta. The initiative follows the government's strict ban on imported used garments, which threatens the livelihoods of these traders.

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa reiterated that imported used clothing is prohibited and must be destroyed, such as by incineration, to prevent illegal goods from entering the market. Conversely, the sale of second‑hand clothing sourced domestically, from old inventory or export leftovers, remains permissible provided sellers comply with existing regulations.

The proposed policy aims to preserve domestic thrifting businesses while safeguarding the local textile sector from competition with illegal imports. No plan has been announced to legalize imported used garments, so operators must adapt to the continued prohibition.