Phurba D Dorji
from Thimphu
A Bhutanese consumer is often left in the lurch after buying a product and finding that he has been duped. It may no longer happen once the Consumer Protection Act is in place. The Bill is expected to be tabled for endorsement in the upcoming summer session of the parliament.
If approved, the Consumer Protection Act will set standards for protecting the interest of consumers, ensure better products and services and facilitate quicker redressal in the event of complaints.
The Joint Director of the Department of trade, Dophu Tshering, said that all consumers need protection against unethical producers, sellers or service providers.
“For instance, if you are over charged by a financial institution or cheated by the bus conductor, you would easily be allowed to seek redressal with the help of a Consumer Protection unit,” he said.
A workshop on consumer protection awareness was held on Tuesday at the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) hall in Thimphu including foreign experts and local stakeholders.
Mr. Hassan Qaqaya of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said that educating consumers regarding their rights is a major challenge. He said that almost everyone should play a vital role in ensuring better consumer protection. “At the governmental level, the ministries, statutory bodies and the ombudsman must be responsible while at the producers/suppliers level, the chamber of commerce, trade associations, corporations, and at the consumer level, individual consumers, consumer associations, and consumer international themselves must be responsible,” he said.
The chief executive of the Hongkong Consumer Council, Ms Connie Lau, said that the Consumer Protection Bill will not only benefit the general consumers but also foster economic growth. She said the establishment of the consumer protection unit, which will follow once the Bill becomes an Act, will “invite healthy competition in the market.”
Ms Connie Lau said the ultimate goal of having such legislation in place was to advocate best practice and competition in the market at lower prices by offering more choices and providing higher quality of products and services. ”I think many people would agree on a basic definition that happiness comes about through being healthy, wealthy and wise,” she said.
Meanwhile, till the consumer protection law is in place, the trade department will have to continue looking after the grievances of the consumers.
The department regulates prices of various commodities, ranging from fixing meat and petroleum products to supervising the maximum retail prices (MRPs).
Considering awareness as a vital tool, Dophu Tshering said the department will be going around the country educating people about their basic rights as consumers.
“We need a law in place that will guide us to protect you better,” he said.
Popularity: 17% [?]
