Consumer protection law still a dream<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Business is business. These three words contain
\na "philosophy" reflecting how harsh the business world is. For a
\nbusiness to succeed, every means might be applicable, regardless
\nof the harm to other people. Business ethics are often cast aside
\nand consumers are exploited.<\/p>\n
Expired products, merchandise of poor quality, misleading
\nadvertisements, unfulfilled promises and poor services in various
\nfields are the most common complaints voiced by consumers.<\/p>\n
Clearly, with chaotic business practices, consumers often end
\nup being the losers. To make things worse, Indonesia does not
\nhave a consumer protection act yet.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Consumers Organization (YLKI), in cooperation
\nwith experts on law and trade, formulated a bill on consumer
\nprotection in 1981. Since then the organization has continuously
\ncampaigned to have the bill ratified.<\/p>\n
Abdul Rachman Saleh, former director of the Indonesian Legal
\nAid Institute who took part in the drafting of the bill, hailed
\nYLKI for its initiative in the formulation of the bill.<\/p>\n
"Everyone can propose a bill or send a letter to the State
\nSecretariat or the House of Representatives about the need to
\nmake a certain legislation. But there is no guarantee that their
\nideas will be accepted," Saleh said.<\/p>\n
All bills which have been ratified by the House of
\nRepresentatives were drafted by the government. The House has the
\nfull right to draft bills, but it has never used the prerogative.<\/p>\n
YLKI executive A.Z. Nasution said that the consumer protection
\nbill drafted by YLKI is nowhere near acceptance.<\/p>\n
"Indonesia is enhancing its economic development and I have
\nthe impression that some people are afraid that the enactment of
\na consumer protection law will hamper that development," he said.<\/p>\n
Instead of obstructing the development, the law is expected to
\nboost the country's economy because it will improve the quality
\nof products, which is important in global trade competition.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is behind some of the other Asian countries in
\nconsumer's rights. Thailand enacted its Consumer Protection Act
\nin 1979, while South Korea introduced the act in 1986. Malaysia
\nis a step ahead as it has a minister who handles consumer issues.<\/p>\n
Realizing the need to have a consumer protection act, the
\nMinistry of Trade asked the School of Law of the University of
\nIndonesia to prepare an academic draft on the subject. The draft,
\nattached with a proposed consumer protection bill, was completed
\nin 1993.<\/p>\n
Bureaucracy, however, has hampered the process of producing
\nthe law. The Trade Ministry could not endorse the proposed bill
\nor draft a new one without approval from the president.<\/p>\n
A staff member of the legal bureau at the Trade Ministry, D.
\nGuritno, told The Jakarta Post that he had sent a letter to the
\nState Secretariat, asking for the president's approval on the
\ndrafting of a consumer protection bill.<\/p>\n
"Last year we asked the State Secretariat about the
\npresident's answer but they said that the letter was missing. We
\nhave sent them a new one, but so far we have not received any
\nanswer," Guritno said.<\/p>\n
Guritno is the secretary of a special team at the ministry
\nwhich is in charge of issues related to the consumer protection
\nbill. The team is headed by Bakir Hasan, Secretary General of the
\nMinistry of Trade.<\/p>\n
Following economic development in the business world, however,
\nthe Ministry of Trade is considering combining the subject of
\nbusiness competition with consumer protection in the planned
\nbill.<\/p>\n
The ministry has consulted the Ministry of Justice on the
\nplan. If the Ministry of Justice agrees, the Ministry of Trade
\nwill send a proposal on the drafting of a bill on business
\ncompetition and consumer protection to the president, who will
\nlater decide whether or not to accept it.<\/p>\n
"I believe it is high time to have such a law, but I don't
\nknow how long the process will be," Guritno said. (sim)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/consumer-protection-law-still-a-dream-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}