Don’t exploit consumers - FCCC

Businesses are urged not to exploit consumers but make sufficient profit and if prices are artificially driven and do not reflect taxes, the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission will take people to task.

This is the message from FCCC Chief Executive Officer Joel Abraham while responding to questions from the media regarding restaurants increasing the prices of food in their shops.

Abraham says the Act requires that if there is an increase in the cost of doing business, then businesses can pass those cost, but those cost needs to be legitimate in nature.

He says they don’t want the smaller operators to collude and engage in price fixing.

The CEO says market-based competition is important, and as the competition regulator, they are keeping tabs on that as well.

He adds they have done over 800 inspections and surveyed over 270 categories of items.

Abraham says they are also liaising with the FRCS, where they get the EMS data on a real-time basis which allows them to do cost comparisons.

He says they will be conducting retail and wholesale price comparisons and they are constantly meeting with businesses.

He also says they will be visiting the Western and Northern divisions to ensure that consumer rights are protected.

The CEO also highlighted that he has received concerns from retailers where cashiers and staff were abused by consumers.

He is urging consumers not to engage in such practices and follow the law.