The Arabic newspaper have been publishing news about the upheaval with the limitation of Public Authority of Consumer Protection(PACP) activities, while the news was not featured in Local English newspapers explaining the situation and reinstatement. Social media platforms have been the means in Arabic news in covering the government's recent decision to remove price caps on dozens of products
"Many social media users have signed an online petition against the decision on June 15 to lift price curbs on dozens of products, with only 23 staple items left under the ambit of PACP. Also, two Twitter hashtags criticising the decision have provoked over 180,000 tweets and retweets"
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Nanauk that made us recall the years of 2007 and 2010 when severe weather was our villain is long forgotten, after another storm appeared out of nowhere this Sunday.
The Council of Ministers decided to limit the role of the Public Authority of Consumer Protection(PACP) to monitor and control prices of 23 items ONLY rather than the array of goods that was once under their jurisdiction. This week has ignited anupheaval that is reminiscent to the days of 2011 when Omani youth desperate about the consumer situationamongst other social issues in Oman stood up and demanded to be listened which spurred into one of the many events defining the Arab Spring in the Middle East.
Many took to the streets to vocalize their frustration on the commercial situation and price hikes which grew to become a burdening ordeal on the average Omani who earned as low as 120 rials; minimum wage back in the day. As a result, on 28thFebruary, PACP came into existence when His Majesty decreed Royal Decree 26/2011. The unrest was quelled, job opportunities were created and the mission of the authority began when it announced the banning of price hikes and stipulated that companies would require approval from PACP to increase prices. Omanis saw this government agency as a savior to their commercial situation and monopoly of traders.
Sunday’s decision has sparked lengthy discussions and disagreements when Omanis realized that what this generation calls necessary goods like electronics, constructions materials and car spare parts aren’t included in the list. Hence, you can’t head down to PACP to complain about items not included and have to succumb to whatever price you are asked to pay.
During the past 3 years, PACP made headlines whenthey discovered how certain automotive companies sellspare parts at a price hike equaling 1700%, or whenthey red-handedly caught those who fed poison to our children under the name of expired 20 year old sweets and candy, which opened our eyes on the importance ofconsumer rights. Unfortunately, the Council of Ministers decided to overrule PACP’s ban on pricehikes of 2011 by diminishing its role rather than praising their efforts. The decision was based on astudy conducted by the Chamber of Commerce andIndustry that specified economical and commercial harm on price restrictions in the market. The studyexplained that having price restrictions on all goods would be a breach to the concept of free economy, which leads to the disruption of economic activity and impact all economic and social sectors in the country. The study went on to conclude with a number of negative disadvantages expected from limiting the prices of all goods to include the loss of supply and demand, killing the spirit of innovation and deterioration of the quality of production, in addition to low level of imported goods.
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| Hashtag Statistics |
Omanis, however, aren’t too thrilled with the justification and see it as the council curbing into the demands of influential wealthy traders rather than public interest. The distaste to the decision has fuelled countless public messages of disapproval and disappointment from the duty of the Council of Minister which should reflect wisdom of His Majesty;a hashtag on twitter that reads ‘I am against the decision and with the reinstatement of PACP’ is the most trending topic which as of the latest twitter statistic has reached to over 90,500 tweets, over 12. 7 million retweets, and an overall outreach of over 110 million accounts. The issue here isn’t Omanis making a big deal out of something that shouldn’t be but more of the fear of going backwards rather than progressing which was the main plea back in 2011.
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| Youtube Video by OmanTV- General |
While Omani economists concur that this is a great step especially with Ramadan just around the corner – since most of the 23 items are edible goods- they agree that without any supplementary laws and regulations,this stand alone decision does more harm than good.Oman’s Consumer Protection Law is the law needed to put rest to the current worries. Majlis Omanrepresented in Majlis Al Shura & Majlis Al Dawlahave discussed and raised their proposed regulationsfor the law to His Majesty for his review and approval,which would give us a clear stipulation of what our rights are, and what we can contest to. So until then, let’s pray and wait for the law to see the daylight soon.
