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(VEN) - Many members of the National Assembly Standing Committee believe it is necessary to strengthen the role of associations and organizations in protecting consumer rights as manufacturers exploit consumers through shoddy goods and bad service.
The Draft Law on Consumer Protection has been discussed by the National Assembly Standing Committee at the 33 session.
Dang Vu Minh, the chairman of the National Assembly Committee for Science, Technology and Environment, emphasized the important role of social organizations in protecting consumer rights.
However, there are still some controversial issues such as responsibilities of organizations, individuals that sell goods and provide services to protect consumer rights, government responsibilities in terms of protecting consumer rights, social organizations' role in protecting consumer rights and policies to solve disputes between consumers and organizations, and individuals that sell goods and provide services.
According to the chairman of the Law Committee Nguyen Van Thuan, the Draft Law must clarify operational models, the legal status and responsibilities of consumer protection organizations.
Nguyen Van Thuan said that according to the Draft Law, consumer protection organizations have rights to sue organizations, individuals and businesses that affect consumer rights. Therefore, consumer protection organizations have to define what and whom they proceed against and whom they sue for because these organizations can not initiate legal action without acting on behalf of consumers in specific cases.
In terms of solving disputes, the chairwoman of the Committee for Justice Le Thi Thu Ba, said that the draft law makers have to pay attention to five dispute resolution methods mentioned in the draft and the role of people's committees at district level which work as an arbitrator in dealing with problems regarding consumers.
Le Thi Thu Ba thought that disputes should not be resolved by administrative measures because administrative departments will have to handle complaints continuously. When complaints are addressed, who will implement decisions?
Many members agreed that consumer protection organizations have responsibility to supply information, consult and communicate rather than help consumers to take legal proceedings. The government should draft policies on consumer protection and supervise the inspection of policy enforcement to protect consumer rights.
With regards to the liability of organizations and individuals that sell goods and provide services in protecting consumer rights, almost all members agreed with the Draft Law of organization and individual responsibilities before, during and after trading with consumers.
To individuals who do independent business and do not have registered business, some members thought that as this kind of business is very common, there is a need to develop methods for these individuals to have to ensure consumer rights. The legislators will amend the draft towards strengthening the role of people's committees at commune level and market management boards to take necessary methods to protect consumer rights.
With respect to the national management authorities in protecting consumer rights, all the National Assembly Standing Committee members agreed about the necessity to make clear the national management authorities' role. Nevertheless, what are their responsibilities? Many members thought that there is a need to clarify responsibilities of different ministries and people's committees at all levels in consumer protection./.
By Hung Cuong
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