In 2024, the protection of consumer rights continues to be associated with the theme of “Transparent Information – Safe Consumption”. This demonstrates the importance of clear information, transparent goods for the safety of consumers, especially in the context of increasing violations of consumer rights in the online environment. In order for the protection of consumer rights to have substantial changes, the key role lies in the awareness of producers, businesses, and consumers themselves.
ENTERPRISES AND CONSUMERS HAND IN HAND
Speaking at the seminar “Protecting consumer rights – Enhancing the brand and reputation of businesses” recently, Deputy Chairman cum Secretary General of the Consumer Protection Association of Vietnam Vu Van Trung said that with the new Law on Consumer Protection, the legal provisions have become more specific and detailed, so when the law comes into effect, it will ensure the rights of consumers more tightly. At the same time, producers and businesses also realize that forms of quick business, lack of transparency will gradually be eliminated.
“When the law is more widely disseminated, consumers will also be more confident in speaking out. The Consumer Protection Association always encourages and urges consumers to speak out to protect their rights. By speaking out, state agencies and organizations in charge of consumer rights will know and have a basis to get involved,” said Mr. Vu Van Trung.
At the same time, according to the Consumer Protection Association of Vietnam, in the work of protecting consumer rights, in addition to the role of state management agencies, businesses themselves need to be aware that protecting consumer rights is also the basis for sustainable production and business development. Specifically, businesses need to enhance their responsibility in production and business activities, provide accurate and timely information so that consumers can make correct and safe decisions.
In addition, it is necessary to focus on improving traditional services, consolidating and developing distribution systems, and researching and building new sales channels to meet market demands. “When consumer rights are guaranteed, businesses can gain trust, meet consumer needs, thereby enhancing the reputation of businesses and promoting production and business,” Mr. Vu Van Trung emphasized.
To protect consumer rights, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has issued Plan No. 6022/KH-BCT proposing activities and choosing a theme for activities responding to Vietnam Consumer Rights Day 2024: “Transparent Information – Safe Consumption”. This theme emphasizes the significance and importance of information for the safety of consumers in the process of selecting, paying, and using goods and services, especially in the context of increasing fraudulent and infringing activities on consumer rights in transactions in the online environment.
According to the plan, activities for consumer rights will be encouraged to be organized and implemented throughout 2024, focusing on peak business and consumer periods such as festivals, lunar New Year, shopping seasons, or peak shopping occasions in the market. Activities responding to Vietnam Consumer Rights Day 2024 will be concentrated in March 2024 (peak month) and extended throughout 2024, depending on the actual situation at agencies, organizations, and localities.
TRANSPARENCY IN THE DIGITAL COMMERCE ENVIRONMENT
According to the e-Conomy SEA 2022 report by Google, Temasek, Bain & Company, Vietnam is one of the countries with the highest growth rate in Southeast Asia in terms of online shopping. The forecasted revenue and sales volume on B2C e-commerce platforms (transactions between businesses and consumers) in Vietnam will continue to increase strongly in the coming year and may reach 650 trillion VND by 2024.
However, in order for e-commerce to continue to develop in 2024 and the following years, experts believe that the joint efforts of ministries and industries are needed to provide comprehensive strategies and solutions to promote e-commerce towards goals such as protecting consumer rights; strengthening regional linkages; developing green and sustainable development; and reducing the gap between localities and regions through digital platforms.
Mr. Bui Huy Hoang, Deputy Director of the Center for Information Technology and Digital Technology (Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy) said that the Center has been implementing solutions such as the Origin Traceability System to trace the origin of products, combat counterfeiting, build online brands, and market products in the digital environment.
In addition, the Center for Information Technology and Digital Technology (Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy, Ministry of Industry and Trade) has also been implementing solutions such as the Origin Traceability System (Truyxuat.gov.vn) to trace the origin of products, combat counterfeiting, build online brands, and market products in the digital environment; Flagship Store model – Local shops on e-commerce platforms to provide synchronized solutions to help small and medium-sized enterprises in localities distribute local products through digital platforms, reduce regional disparities…
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has recently proposed to supplement regulations on advertising activities of individuals using social networks with 500,000 followers and subscribers. Currently, advertising activities are growing strongly. Taking advantage of the prevalence and popularity of advertising media, especially social networks, many influential figures have disseminated false advertising content, affecting consumers. Accordingly, when posting opinions and feelings about the use of goods and services on social networks, advertisers must have specific evidence of directly using the product…
In addition, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, as the agency in charge of managing e-commerce activities, has many solutions to prevent fraudulent activities in online transactions, protect the legitimate rights of consumers. In which, the ministry has submitted to the Government Decree No. 85/2021 amending and supplementing some articles of Decree No. 52/2013 on e-commerce. Accordingly, the responsibility of the e-commerce platform operator in coordinating with the state management agency to remove information about goods that violate the law within 24 hours has been strengthened, and the transparency of information on goods/services in the digital environment has been enhanced…
