IT IS EXPECTED THAT IN THE FUTURE THERE WILL BE MORE BUSINESSES BECOMING AWARE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION

            It is expected that in the future there will be more businesses who state Consumer Protection Awareness Declaration so it will finally create a balanced position in consumer-business relationship, strengthen businesses’ responsibility in consumer protection, and bulid consumer-business transaction based on fairness. This matter was stated by Vice Minister of Trade, Bayu Krihnamurti, jointly with the National Consumer Protection Board (BPKN) upon witnessing signing of declaration of businesses aware of consumer protection in Jakarta on Tuesday (December 13).

            According to Bayu, consumer protection will not go smoothly only be relying on role of the government through various kinds of regulations and law enforcement in supervision activity. Now, the businesses as government’s partners are able to get involved in enforcing consumer protection through education and self-regulation. “Self-regulation is a from of self-regulating by the businesses that should be based on good faith to improve consumer protection in Indonesia”. he explained.

            Businesses who signed the declaration are representatives of Permanent Committee for Consumer Protection of Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN Indonesia), Indonesian Retail Merchants Association (Aprindo), Telecommunication Interconnection Clearing Association (Askitel), Association of the Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (ASITA), Indonesian Food and Beverage Association (GAPMMI), and Indonesian Financing Companies Association (APPI).

            Bases on data presented by Bayu, this year, Indonesian national revenue reaches Rp 8,000 trillions where more than Rp 5,500 trillions are household spending. Out of the total household spending, more than Rp 3,500 trillions are consumption spending. Every year, there is a 7-8 percent growth which value reaches Rp 300 trillions.

            According to him, with total Indonesian population potential to reach 340 million people, Indonesia is deemed as a luring, prospective, and profitable market, and the main accelerator is consumers. This makes many businesses interested to open business in Indonesia, and Indonesia has a higher number of productive-age population if compared to the non-productive age (children and old people).

            “In this case, consumer protection becomes a responsibility as consumers are frequently cheated. While, in fact, if consumers are satisfied, economic activities will increase. The President also advises of the need to strengthen domestic market. Domestic market must be resistant to all shocks, whether national or international; growth of domestic market should be dominated by local products; and there is a need for domestic market protection.

            There are three steps in the framework of consumer protection attempt. Firstly, promoting consumer protection. BPKN has chosen Tasya Kamila as Smart Consumer Ambassador (Duta Konsumen Cerdas) who will socialize about the importance of Consumer Protection from elementary education up to teenager and adult levels. The next is preventive step where it is expected that each production line should have a system of monitoring over circulating products. And, the last is protective step where if there is indication of violation by the businesses, it should be settled based on the laws.

            It is expected that in next year, the attempt of strengthening domestic market will be more actualized in various fields, including attempt to absorb Indonesian origin products and local products as well as promoting of consumer protection.