Indonesia consumer group urges tax review on sanitary products

The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) is calling on the government to re-evaluate the Value Added Tax (VAT) applied to sanitary pads, arguing the current policy is gender-biased and unfair. Under existing regulations, sanitary pads are classified as taxable goods with an effective rate of 11 percent, as they are not currently listed as exempt essential goods under Government Regulation Number 49 of 2022.

YLKI representative Andjani Widy stated that sanitary pads are a biological necessity rather than luxury items. Citing Consumer Protection Law Number 8 of 1999, the foundation emphasized that the state and businesses must ensure access to basic needs is safe and affordable. YLKI has recommended that the government revise tax rules to exempt sanitary products from VAT to protect women's health rights and economic accessibility.

The Directorate General of Taxes (DJP) has maintained that the levy is a general consumption tax rather than a tax specifically targeting women or menstruation. However, the policy has sparked social media protests under hashtags such as #SadarDipalak, with critics arguing that the tax disproportionately affects low-income women and students.