Bangkok: Santi, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office, has established five pivotal policies aimed at bolstering consumer rights and enhancing the quality of life for citizens under the “Quick Big Win” strategy. This initiative seeks to create a reliable and effective mechanism for consumer protection.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Santi Piyatat, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, visited the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) to engage with civil servants and officials. Mr. Ronarong Poolpipat, Secretary-General of the OCPB, welcomed Mr. Santi and led a tour of the OCPB’s operations. During this visit, Mr. Santi presided over a meeting focused on advancing consumer protection measures. The government has pinpointed five crucial policy areas: economic, security, social, environmental, and modern government. The OCPB is tasked with addressing national issues in alignment with government policy, acting as a primary mechanism for proactive consumer protection. The initiative emphasizes integrating problem-solving efforts with relevant agencies and enhancing the efficiency of the complaints system.
The five key policies include the “Half-Half Plus” project, which aims to safeguard consumer rights in spending, educate against fraud, and ensure legal business practices. This policy also includes measures to control merchants and service providers, with investigations and penalties for violators and complaints to be forwarded to the Ministry of Commerce.
The E-cigarette Suppression Project focuses on protecting public health, particularly among youth, by controlling misleading information and advertising related to e-cigarettes. The project emphasizes strict control over products and distribution channels.
Measures to reduce living costs aim to protect tenants’ rights by preventing electricity and water bills from exceeding set rates, assisting low-income renters in accessing public utilities fairly. The OCPB will work with relevant agencies to establish standards for controlling utility bills.
The tourism promotion policy seeks to ensure fair service fees in rental businesses, aiming to boost consumer confidence and sustainable tourism.
Lastly, a policy to facilitate small business operators (SMEs) includes offering a ONE-STOP SERVICE for business and company registration, coordinated with the Department of Business Development, Ministry of Commerce. The OCPB will ensure product labels provide accurate information, protecting consumers from potentially misleading products.
The “Quick Big Win” approach, with its five key policies, is designed to ensure fairness, speed, and equal access to consumer rights protection, safeguarding the public in both offline and online consumption environments while integrating all sectors for a sustainable mechanism.