WORLD CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY – 15 MARCH 2022
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (MCIL) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Office of the Regulator (OOTR) and the Ministry of Customs and Revenue (MCR) will conduct awareness programs in Savaii from 15th – 18th March 2022 to commemorate the World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) this year.
This year’s WCRD theme “Fair Digital Finance” is aimed at raising awareness on digital technologies that reshape payments, lending, insurance, and wealth management everywhere becoming a key enabler for consumers of financial services. This accords with the current efforts by the Government to thrust engagement in e-commerce platform and digital trade. However, the Ministry decided to celebrate this special day by generating engagement programs to further enhance the understanding of consumers and traders of their obligatory roles and functions with the ultimate anticipations of making sure Samoan consumers are not unfairly treated and Samoan businesses to operate in a transparent and competitive environment. In addition to awareness programs, promotional materials for consumers will also be disseminated.
The series of awareness programs intends to cover the whole of Savaii targeting consumers, business operators, general public, senior classes of colleges and vocational schools:
- Tuesday, 15 March – Salelologa, Apita o Pisaga Hall
- Wednesday, 16 March – Saleaula
- Thursday, 17 March – Asau
- Friday, 18 March – Salelologa
March 15th of each year is recognized by Consumer International as WCRD to highlight issues affecting consumers worldwide and raise global awareness about basic consumer rights and needs.
These eight (8) basic consumer rights include the;
1. Right to safety,
2. Right to information,
3. Right to choose,
4. Right to representation,
5. Right to satisfaction of basic needs,
6. Right to redress,
7. Right to a healthy environment,
8. Right to consumer education.
WCRD was first celebrated in Samoa in 1998 when the Government passed into law the Fair Trading Act 1998, which is now replaced by the Competition and Consumer Act (CCA) 2016. This is the 24th year since WCRD has been celebrated in Samoa.
