Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Indonesian labor unions plan to stage a mass protest in front of the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on February 26, 2025, urging President Prabowo Subianto to take firm action against illegal textile imports.
According to Kumparan, the protest organized by the Confederation of Nusantara Trade Unions (KSPN), seeks stricter enforcement against illegal imports that labor leaders say threaten the domestic textile industry and its workers.
“We are mobilizing hundreds of thousands of our members to take to the streets as a moral show of support for President Prabowo to act decisively against illegal import perpetrators and their backers,” said KSPN President Ristadi in a statement on Wednesday, December 11.
Ristadi called for the creation of a dedicated ministry or agency to handle national textile issues and for legislation to safeguard the domestic industry. “We need a comprehensive Undang-Undang Sandang (Textile Law) as a macroeconomic policy to protect and save the national textile industry. A special agency or ministry must be established to address textile concerns,” he said.
The labor leader also demanded tighter regulations to curb imports and legal measures to crack down on illicit activities. “Remove officials involved in illegal imports and replace them with individuals of integrity who are willing to take a stand,” Ristadi added.
He further urged the government to strengthen the authority of the Illegal Import Task Force (Satgas Impor Ilegal) to enforce restrictions effectively. “Law enforcement must be upheld by enhancing the Task Force’s oversight capabilities,” he explained.
Ristadi stressed that the government must prioritize protecting workers from mass layoffs and provide economic support to those already affected by job losses.
In the past three years, Indonesia has faced a surge in illegal textile imports, which, according to Ristadi, have increasingly dominated both traditional and online markets. “This phenomenon has pushed domestic Textile and Textile Product (TPT) manufacturers to the brink, as they cannot compete with the low prices of imported goods,” he said.
He warned that if the issue remains unaddressed, Indonesia’s domestic textile industry, especially those catering to the local market will collapse, leading to widespread job losses.
“If this situation is left unchecked, millions of workers will be laid off, impacting their families and placing economic burdens on tens of millions of people,” Ristadi concluded.
(Raidi/Agung)
