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Complicated procedures hinder disappointed consumers from filing complaints: Trade Minister
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Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita (right) and Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo (left) taste a traditional fish skin cracker during an exhibition to commemorate the National Consumers Day at the Central Java administration office in Semarang on Wednesday. (The Jakarta Post/Suherdjoko)
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recent consumer survey carried out by the Trade Ministry showed that 37 percent of respondents had experienced a loss but opted not to file a complaint. These people were part of the 42 percent of respondents who said they had been disappointed by their provider recently.
The study also showed that 20 percent of consumers said the complaints process was too long and complicated.
“Consumers are not yet able to fight for their rights as consumers. The survey also showed that 24 percent said they were not aware of channels to file a complaint,” Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said during the commemoration of National Consumers Day at the Central Java provincial administration office in Semarang on Wednesday.
He reiterated that the government was committed to improving consumer protection in accordance with the 1999 law on consumer protection. “If consumers fight for their rights, businesspeople will be spurred to improve the quality of products and services,” he said.
(Read also: Phones and social media turn consumers into whistleblowers)
At the same event, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo boasted of the uniqueness of batik originating from different areas in Central Java.
“Civil servants in Central Java only wear uniforms on Mondays. They wear batik for the rest of the week. There are different batik cloths from Surakarta, Pekalongan, Temanggung, Blora, Semarang and Klaten,” said Ganjar. (bbs)
