The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) is dedicated to ensuring consumer welfare and has pledged to tackle corporate greed that takes advantage of Fijians in light of soaring living expenses. FCCC’s chief executive officer, Joel Abraham, emphasized their commitment to taking action against those who undermine consumer rights.
“We will not allow corporate greed to compromise consumer welfare,” Mr. Abraham stated, highlighting ongoing market surveillance and regulatory initiatives designed to uphold fair pricing practices. The FCCC is enhancing its efforts to protect consumers by investigating pricing practices, particularly focusing on essential goods and services.
Special attention is being directed towards the food industry, where rising prices have put pressure on households. “Making excessive profits at the expense of our people is morally wrong and should not be tolerated,” he added.
As part of its approach, the FCCC is working with various partners to implement market-oriented solutions and foster competition. Recent talks with FMF Foods Ltd have led to notable price decreases for essential items such as soybean oil and milk powder.
Furthermore, the FCCC is set to introduce price controls on ghee, an important product for festive occasions, following a significant price surge in recent months. The commission is also launching its first-ever case concerning anti-competitive practices in the supermarket sector.
Mr. Abraham remarked that this represents a transition towards more proactive enforcement aimed at cultivating competitive markets, ultimately benefiting consumers through improved prices and services.