Still difficult to protect consumers

The number of cases of consumer rights violations is showing signs of increasing, but the handling by relevant agencies is very limited.

Illustration photo. Source (Internet)

That is the opinion of experts at the Workshop on Solutions to promote the protection of consumer rights in Vietnam in the coming time organized by the Competition Management Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade).
Statistics from the Competition Management Department show that: The number of cases of consumer rights violations is increasing rapidly, from 26 cases in 2011 to 1,689 cases in 2015. To protect consumer rights, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has implemented propaganda and dissemination of laws; regularly informed and warned consumers; provided advice and support in resolving consumer complaints, and supervised the recall of defective products...

Although there have been many efforts to protect consumer rights, the reality shows that in some localities, it has only stopped at the movement level. Resources for consumer rights protection are too limited; the experience and skills of the officers in charge are limited. Meanwhile, Mr. Tran Phong - Head of Trade Management Department, Department of Industry and Trade of Quang Ninh province, said that consumers are currently afraid of getting into trouble during the "litigation" process when their rights are violated, so consumers themselves do not make a complaint to the Association.

In addition, the functional force is thin and financial resources are limited, so it is also difficult to implement. "Currently, I am the only one in charge of food safety management at the provincial level, so it is very difficult to advise and help consumers when problems arise," Mr. Phong gave an example.
Agreeing with this opinion, Mr. Do Duc Duong - Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, and Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Consumer Protection Association, expressed concern that if there is a dispute or petition, we can only meet the distributor, but it is difficult to meet the manufacturing enterprise, especially foreign enterprises that do not invest in production in Vietnam. These are major barriers when protecting consumer rights. For example, the Ho Chi Minh City Market Management Department discovered that 3 tons of imported confectionery into Vietnam weighed 450gr/box when fully weighed. But when peeling off the paper mattresses on top and bottom, there were only about 200gr/box. This is a serious violation of consumer rights, but the authorities can only punish the distributor, because they cannot approach the manufacturing enterprise, and consumers are being inadvertently violated.
Mr. Cao Xuan Quang - Head of the Department of Consumer Rights Protection (Competition Management Department) said: In order to overcome this shortcoming, in the coming time, the Department of Industry and Trade of the provinces will assign units and officials to carry out State management on consumer rights protection, publicize hotlines; strengthen inspection, examination, and handling of violations; arrange human resources and finance to ensure consumer rights protection.

Obviously, from reality, there are still many issues that need to be discussed in consumer protection work, because from the perspective of consumers, as well as the mechanisms, sanctions, and resources for those who protect their legitimate rights and interests, they are still not close to reality.

According to Kinh te & Do thi Online