World Consumer Rights Day March 15 |15 March 2017
Keeping consumers abreast of the digital age
World Consumer Rights Day demands the basic rights of all consumers, demanding that those rights are respected and protected
World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated by consumer authorities every year around the world on March 15. This year is no exception and the theme chosen to mark the occasion is ‘Digital Age: Building a digital world consumers can trust’.
The Fair Trading Commission (FTC) has said it is important on this occasion to take stock of the achievements of such authorities vis-à-vis the arduous task of maintaining consumer rights and well balanced educational programmes so that consumers can benefit in respective markets.
To mark the occasion here in Seychelles, FTC, in collaboration with the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC) and partners, is organising a symposium on Friday at the Seychelles Institute of Teacher Education (Site) at Mont Fleuri to address issues facing our society and consumers in general in this digital age.
According to Neddy Padayachy, chief compliance officer of the Consumer Department of FTC, the World Consumer Rights Day is an occasion to bring together under one roof representatives of different sectors that are connected to the digital world to talk, discuss, provide information, solutions and advice with regards to the way in which digital technology can be securely used in this era. The recommendations that will emanate from this symposium will then be used as stepping stone to formulate sound and relevant policies.
He said the forum is an opportunity to promote the basic rights of all consumers, demanding that those rights are respected and protected, and a chance to protest against the market abuses and social injustices which undermine those rights.
“In Seychelles the matter of consumers’ rights is no different hence such a day is important across the globe including the Seychelles,” he said.
The FTC, he said, is also working with the National Consumers’ Forum (Natcof) to ensure that all age groups are reached and informed about the benefits and dangers of the Digital Age. That is because, he said, as per the statistics it can also be observed that the older age groups are becoming very well versed with such technology.
Regarding the level of consumer rights awareness in Seychelles, Mr Padayachy said it is possible that consumers are not as versed as would be desired with regards to the importance of such day. However, in the past few years there has been an increase in the emphasis placed on the awareness of consumers with regards to the World Consumer Rights day seeing that many more activities are being held to commemorate this day locally.
“These activities are eventually creating a tradition or custom whereby on the 15th of every March, Seychelles together with the rest of the world show their solidarity and support to protecting the rights of all consumers. After all we are all consumers at one point in time or another,” he said.
As for SNYC involvement in this year’s celebration, Mr Padayachy said digital technology is far reaching and is one field that seems to transcend all age groups. Statistics have shown that the younger generation seems to be more in tune or apt with the digital era that we are currently living in.
“It is not an exception in the Seychelles. According to statistics from other countries such as England and America, it has been proven that there is a trend that exists with regards to digital technology. And this trend shows that the prevalence of contact with the digital age is higher among young people than other age groups,” he explained.
The SNYC has what is termed as Youth Services Bureaus which carries out various activities that are linked to the digital world and they include research, games room and internet cafes. Consequently, it is only fitting that the Commission partners with the council as the council is frequented by young people.
“In the end the message embedded in this year’s theme will create an even bigger impact when targetting groups that are accessing the digital technology,” he remarked.
Digital Age – Building a digital world consumers can trust? What have the consumers got to gain from this theme? And how can this be implemented in Seychelles? Mr Padayachy shed more light on it.
“Digital technology is having a dramatic impact on consumers around the world, creating many new benefits including better communication, access to information and greater choice and convenience. Practical examples include, online shopping, paying of utility bills, online banking, advertising and many more. While consumers undoubtedly benefit from these technologies, there are questions about how to establish access to the internet for the many consumers who are not connected, how to improve the quality of services, which online services and products consumers can trust and what happens to the data they share online,” he said.
And as this world is rapidly becoming an even smaller global village as digital technology brings services and goods into the households of consumers, Mr Padayachy said this rapid change is also having an effect in the Seychelles. However, it is important to ensure that this change does not impact our society negatively but rather positively. Consequently, it is important to have guidelines, parameters and as much knowledge as possible to ensure that transactions in this digital age are done safely.