Indonesia debates Value Added Tax on menstrual pads

Indonesian legislators and officials are criticizing the 11 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) applied to menstrual pads, arguing that these products are essential biological necessities rather than luxury goods.

Irma Suryani Chaniago of Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) and Selly Andriany Gantina of Commission VIII have both urged the government to reconsider the tax, stating that it places an undue economic burden on women and ignores gender sensitivity. They emphasize that menstruation is a non-negotiable biological process that should not be treated as a consumer choice.

Arifah Fauzi, the Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection, supported this view, asserting that access to sanitary products is vital for health, hygiene, and dignity, particularly for vulnerable socio-economic groups and during emergencies.

In response to the policy, a citizen named Bernita Matondang has filed a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court (MK) seeking to have menstrual pads classified as tax-exempt goods under Law Number 7 of 2021 regarding Tax Regulation Harmonization.