World Consumer Rights Day

“Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing issues facing our planet. Consumer awareness of the plastics crisis is growing around the world. Consumers have a critical role in shaping the marketplace, and we must support them to mobilize businesses and governments, to ensure sustainable consumption is accessible to all.”- Helena Leurent, Director General, Consumers International. We are all consumers. A consumer is anyone who uses goods and services to satisfy both their basic needs as well as their secondary needs. When was the last time you felt a sense of satisfaction after patronizing a business entity? Consumer advocacy is not that big a deal in some societies and this is quite unfortunate. As consumers many of us have become complacent with the poor service. Regrettably, poor customer service has been normalized in the society. Things have gotten so bad that when we experience good customer service we are sent into a state of shock and awe. As consumers we do not utilize the power that we have. Many of us are not fully aware of our rights and responsibilities as consumers. How many of us know where to turn regarding consumer rights protection? This is problematic and as a result many customers suffer unnecessarily due primarily to a lack of knowledge regarding consumer rights, education and protection. As consumers we all know when we have been treated well. Good consumer service goes beyond getting value for your money. It is that inner feeling of satisfaction that resonates after you have concluded your business. It is that feeling which compels one to recommend to one’s friends those businesses which are exceptional in their service. It is that warm feeling inside which makes you a repeat consumer. On the other hand we all know when we have been shortchanged regarding good consumer service. Global Consumer Rights Awareness The consumer movement marks March 15th with World Consumer Rights Day yearly, as a means of raising global awareness about consumer rights and needs. Celebrating the day is an opportunity to demand that the rights of all consumers are respected and protected, and to protest against market abuses and social injustices which undermine those rights. World Consumer Rights Day was inspired by President John F Kennedy, who sent a special message to the US Congress on 15th March 1962, in which he formally addressed the issue of consumer rights. This letter from President Kennedy became known as the Consumer Bill of Rights. The original four consumer rights are; the right to safety, the right to be informed; the right to choose and the right to be heard. In1985, the United Nations through the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection expanded the consumer rights to include four more rights. These are; the right to satisfaction of basic needs, the right to redress, the right to consumer education and the right to a healthy environment. As with all rights the consumer also has responsibilities, among these are the willingness to take action to ensure that as a consumer you enjoy your rights and the responsibility to protect and conserve our resources and the environment. According to Consumers International the theme for World Consumer Rights Day is ‘Tackling Plastic Pollution’. The campaign will raise awareness and engage consumers globally to adopt and promote more sustainable practices. Building on last year’s theme of ‘The Sustainable Consumer’, the campaign will also focus on the central role that consumer advocates, governments and businesses can play in tackling the global plastic pollution crisis. Plastic Use and the Environment Plastic is a highly useful material in our everyday lives, but our consumption and production of plastics, especially single-use plastic, have become unsustainable. This is impacting our ecosystems, causing negative environmental consequences, including pollution of the local and international environment, and threatening human health. Consumers are increasingly concerned about plastic pollution and are already taking action. A global study in 2019 found that there is a strong consumer response to plastic waste (with 82% of respondents using reusable cleaning utensils instead of single-use plastic alternatives, 72% bringing reusable bags when shopping and 62% using refillable drinking bottles) – and despite the increased use of single-use plastic during the pandemic, 55% of consumers globally have now become more concerned about the environment as a result of COVID-19 and nearly 74% of consumers (in Europe, the US and South America) are willing to spend more on sustainable packaging. Systemic marketplace change is required at all levels from governments, businesses and standard setters to make tackling plastic pollution and sustainable consumption the easy choice for consumers. In 2019 Jamaica introduced a ban on single-use plastic bags, plastic straws and Styrofoam, in a bid to reduce the impact plastic is having on the environment in several phases. The ban covers the manufacture, importation and distribution of disposable plastic bags. We have not adequately developed a culture of recycling and this is an area which can provide opportunities for many entrepreneurs. The final phase, which applies to 24” by 24” single-use plastic bags and disposable drinking straws attached to drink boxes or pouches, began on January 1, 2021. The government has granted a six-month transition period to the private sector and has committed to increasing public education and awareness-raising activities. Consumer Protection and Education The consumer must guard him/herself against the numerous advertising traps such as price fixing and misleading advertisement which have become so prevalent in most societies. Advertising is seen as misleading if it involves false, misleading or deceptive information that is likely to cause the average consumer to act in a way they might otherwise not. Advertising may also be considered misleading if important information that the average consumer needs to make an informed decision is left out. Disturbingly, many educational institutions are often caught in this web of deception regarding the services they purport to offer. We need to do better! The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) is a government agency under the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, whose role is to enforce the Consumer Protection Act 2005 (Amended 2012) and a range of additional legislation, promoting competition and fair trading, for the benefit of all Jamaicans. The purpose of the CAC is to protect consumers by informing and educating them about their rights and responsibilities; as well as the Consumer Protection Act and any other laws that protect consumers. The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) in Jamaica will be observing World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) 2021 on Monday, March 15 under the theme 'The COVID-Conscious Consumer: Food Security, Waste Disposal and Money Management.' The 21st century consumer must be vigilant and well informed. There must be that desire in us as consumers to bring about change by engaging in advocacy and activism. A younger generation of consumers must be mobilized and this can only happen through education. There needs to be a more concerted effort in the education system to strengthen consumer affairs and consumer rights education. At the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level in Social Studies students are exposed to three options in Section C one of which is consumer affairs. At the secondary level those students who are timetabled for Social Studies must do consumer affairs. As consumers we all have a role to play in addressing the many hurdles which are both hidden and revealed in an age of globalization. We need a collective effort to utilize the Circle Model of Waste Management of 7Rs, rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, repair and replace. As consumers we need to demand more from the providers of goods and services. As consumers we need to realize how powerful our collective voices can be in bringing about change. Happy World Consumer Rights Day. In the words of Tony Hsieh, customer service shouldn’t be a department; it should be the entire company. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo ©