As families around the country prepare for the new school year, FCCC has continued its enforcement activities towards back-to-school items. Since 14 December 2023, the FCCC’s targeted approach has included 222 preschool surveys, to collect data on prices of stationery items both to monitor for price manipulation, as well as provide the list of prices to the public to aid in their back to school shopping.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, SMEs, and Communications, Hon. Manoa Kamikamica, said “The Government applauds FCCC’s proactive efforts especially in light of the $200 back-to-school support initiative. It is our duty to ensure that such beneficial programs are not undermined by unethical market practices. We are committed to supporting FCCC in these enforcement activities, ensuring fairness and protection for all consumers during this crucial time.”
FCCC CEO, Joel Abraham, said that the initiative has been of great assistance to Fijian families, as well as benefitting the Fiji economy at large.
“With the Government’s $200 Back-to-School Support initiative having just been given out for the new school year, we want to ensure that the benefits of the initiative are maximised for families,” said Abraham.
“Information gathered from our market survey, containing the prices from stationery retailers, will be published on FCCC’s social media pages and website from today. This will allow consumers to make more informed choices and engage in comparative shopping that can save them money.”
“Our enforcement teams are actively carrying out market surveys of school items to prevent instances of price gouging and find out what the current pricing is. This is in addition to inspections to ensure compliance under the FCCC Act 2010.”
“In the weeks to come before schools reopen, we will maintain this momentum for our enforcement activities and will be implementing further awareness activities to assist families as they prepare for the new school year.”
Outside of FCCC’s ongoing proactive efforts, consumers are also urged to report any unethical conduct they encounter.
“Back-to-school shopping, without proper planning, can severely dent your budget,” cautioned Abraham.
“It’s crucial to assess your inventory beforehand to avoid purchasing unnecessary supplies. Once you’ve identified your necessities, scout for online sales and explore various stores to secure the best deals, staying within your budgetary limits.”
“Please make sure you keep all receipts so that if there are any issues, you have the required evidence to report it to FCCC. Consumer protection is a team effort and together we can ensure a marketplace where all participants are treated fairly.”
For more information, or to report any breaches of consumer rights, members of the public can contact the FCCC by calling 8921 991, emailing helpdesk@fccc.gov.fj or through any of the channels at https://linktr.ee/fijianccc.
