Finance Minister discusses with Consumer Associations

Consumer
Associations representatives in attendance were the Association des Consommateurs
de l’Ile Maurice, the Consumer Advocacy Platform, and the Association for
the Protection of Environment and Consumers.

During the consultative process, several
proposals were voiced out, namely: protecting employment amid the Covid-19
pandemic, reviewing the consumer protection legislation, restoring the
purchasing power through price control on a maximum amount of products including
vegetables, regulating online buying and introducing a legislation to that end,
creating a post for a Consumer Ombudsperson (with full decision-making and investigative powers)
to deter the malpractices of certain trades, setting up of a Consumer
Commission to protect consumers and to replace the existing Consumers Affairs
unit, and modernising existing legal frameworks.

The National Budget 2020/2021 will set in
motion the Government Programme 2020-2024 “Towards an Inclusive, High Income and
Green Mauritius: Forging Ahead Together”. The focus will
also be on
raising the quality of life for all, lifting the standard of living of
the vulnerable groups and securing a safe society.

Other suggestions made encompassed the
following: giving equal chances in education with regards to the use of digital
tools for those who cannot afford to buy tech products, controlling the soaring
prices practised by liberal professions as well as dentists, doctors and
insurances amid the Covid-19 pandemic, and more investment in research and
development in the consumer sector. 

The setting up a Food Agency to comprise
representatives of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Ministry of
Commerce and Consumer Protection, Ministry of Health and Wellness and Municipal
and District Councils was also proposed. 
This key objective of the agency would be to guarantee an enhanced
protection of the rights of consumers on the quality of products in Mauritius.

Recommendations that emerged while discussing
with the Finance Minister also included: demonstrating a new political will in favour
of consumers and encouraging consumers to buy local produce to protect the
industry and employment; ensuring that local products meet quality standards;
introducing a taxation system; changing the higher purchase system; promoting
food self-sufficiency by providing incentives for people to grow crops and
providing adequate facilities and training to that end.

Main
stakeholders from business and trade associations, professional bodies, trade
unions, NGOs, civil society organisations, amongst others have been accordingly invited to submit their proposals to the
Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development.

#ResOuLakaz #BeSafeMoris​

Government Information Service, Prime
Minister’s Office, Level 6, New Government Centre, Port Louis, Mauritius.
Email: gis@govmu.org  Website: http://gis.govmu.org  Mobile App: Search Gov​​​​​