$150K for Consumer Council Hotline
The Consumer Council of Fiji has been provided with an allocation of $150,000 to set up a ‘hotline’ for consumers to lodge complaints against businesses which do not pass on tax and duty reductions on goods and services to consumers.
This announcement by the Minister of Finance, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, was applauded by the Council.
Its officer in charge, Bindula Prasad, said for years the council has been lobbying for State intervention to ensure tougher monitoring measures were in place so that traders/retailers pass on the duty reductions to all consumers.
“The Council expects traders and service providers to decrease retail prices as the Government has reduced duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) on certain products,” she said.
“It is good news that Government has introduced measures to ensure traders pass on the duty reductions to the consumers.”
A penalty of $50,000 and upon conviction to a fine of up to $100,000 or five years imprisonment is in place for traders who do not comply with the laws which have also been introduced. The council also noted the reduction of VAT from 15 to nine per cent.
“This decrease in the consumption tax will mean a drop in the retail prices of goods and services for consumers,” she said.
“We are pleased with Government’s initiative to reduce duty on items like deodorants, baby garments, adult underpants, skin care products, sanitary pads and diapers. This will again ease the financial burden on consumers.”
