BINADOW.ID, JAKARTA – President Joko Widodo provides significant relaxations for Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) regarding the goods they bring or send back to the homeland. Head of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI), Benny Ramdhani, stated that one of the relaxations given is that PMI no longer need to pay for the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) registration for their mobile phones when returning to Indonesia.
“PMI often face difficulties with their phone’s IMEI when they arrive in the homeland, and the cost is quite high. The President also agrees to grant a special privilege by exempting PMI from this obligation,” said Benny after a limited meeting at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Thursday (August 3, 2023).
In addition, President Jokowi also provides relaxations for the goods owned by PMI that they bring back to Indonesia. Benny explained that PMI is now allowed to bring personal goods from abroad to Indonesia with a maximum tax value of 1,500 US dollars in three shipments.
“We are confident that the goods brought by PMI are mostly personal items and not for business purposes or for resale. Except for gifts for their families,” Benny explained.
In this regard, Benny also outlined three types of goods that are usually brought or sent by PMI from abroad to Indonesia. First, there are goods that are sent regularly every month or every year while PMI is working abroad and returning to Indonesia.
Secondly, there are goods that PMI brings directly when they take leave or after they finish their work contract abroad.
“And the third category is the relocation goods, which are the belongings that PMI brings when their work contract ends and they do not extend all the items in their residence,” Benny said.
Benny conveyed that there has been no regulation governing this matter, causing various problems for PMI. With the new regulation in place, it is expected that the government can provide protection and facilitate PMI in the repatriation process and minimize the problems they face. [dan]
