International Consumer Rights Day is celebrated on March 15 of each year. Ensuring reasonable prices for products is an important part of protecting consumer rights. To further establish a legal basis for the protection of consumer rights, the Consumer Rights and Interests Protection Act was passed in 2021 and entered into force in January 2022. However, more than a year after its entry into force of the law, the mechanism for executive authorities to investigate and study unreasonable prices of goods or services has not yet been effectively triggered, which has slowed down the pace of setting reasonable prices and protecting consumer rights.
Although the local economy has started to recover and the unemployment rate is gradually decreasing, and social development presents a better picture, not all residents can benefit immediately during the initial stage of economic recovery, and for those residents and the their families, the financial burden still puts ongoing pressure on their livelihoods.
According to the Directorate of Statistics and Census Services, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.77 percent year-on-year to 104.2 in February this year. The increase was mainly driven by rising wages for domestic servants and school fees, as well as rising prices: for meals purchased away from home; of gasoline and electricity. The CPI rose 0.09 percent in monthly terms. The price index of the food and non-alcoholic beverage section grew, thanks to the increase in the price of meals purchased away from home. The above mentioned main categories of increase refer to most essential daily household expenses and if there is an unwarranted increase in prices, it will certainly weigh on people’s lives.
The price of gasoline is one of the items included in the price increase. The price level with “Big increase, but small decrease”, or “Quick to add, but slow to cut” has always been criticized by society, and they have not yet actively promoted the implementation of the provisions of the Law on the protection of the rights and interests of the consumer. consumer.
The competent departments did not take the rights of consumers seriously, thus making it impossible to demonstrate the power conferred on them by law. The authorities are urged to start the relevant work as soon as possible in order to fulfill their supervisory powers and protect consumers’ rights in accordance with the law.
Currently, only the higher priced 98 unleaded gasoline is available at service stations in Macau, leaving many vehicle owners with no choice but to use expensive fuel. In fact, the lower price 95 unleaded gasoline complies with the requirements of the Administrative Regulation of the Rules relating to unleaded gasoline and light diesel for vehicles, enacted in 2016, and the specifications of most light vehicles currently circulating in Macao. Therefore, it is recommended that the authorities study and promote the introduction of 95 unleaded gasoline at gas stations in Macau, so that Macau residents have more reasonable consumption options.
*People’s Alliance of Macao Institution
