FCCC expects consumer protection will be a key area in the upcoming budget

The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission expects that consumer protection will be a key area of the 2021/2022 National Budget.

FCCC CEO, Joel Abraham says given the COVID-19 pandemic, the issues relating to consumer protection has increased.

Abraham says they will also like to see the continuation of the policies relating to price control as this gives consumers certainty that businesses will not overcharge them.

He further says they have noted that duty reductions announced for some items in this year’s budget have not been passed down to consumers.

The Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum had announced last year that they were cutting customs duties on over 1,600 items.

He adds this is expected to be a very difficult budget given that the overall budget revenue has declined.

Abraham also says one of the challenges for them is at looking at online business activities given that a lot of it is now happening on social media which are largely unregulated.

He says there are businesses that are saying that goods once sold cannot be returned or no refund policy which is a deprivation of consumer rights which is entrenched in the FCCC Act.

Abraham adds the number of complaints have increased in relation to this.

Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum will deliver the 2021/2022 National Budget at 7.30pm this Friday.