The consumer council of Fiji wants unfair contract term laws to protect consumers and provide recourse if they have been unjustly bound in contract agreements.

CEO Premila Kumar said Unfair contract terms causes imbalance in the parties rights and obligations under contracts, to the detriment of consumers and unfair terms are a pre-written term in a standard form contract.

Kumar added unfair contract terms have been a major concern for the council for as long as they have been receiving many complaints where consumers have been unjustly disadvantaged.

She said with unfair contract term legislation, consumers would have opportunity to seek recourse as the regulators would have powers to challenge unfair clauses of the contracts which puts consumers at risk and is not in their best interest.

Kumar said adequate and effect protection against unfair contract terms is necessary not only for consumers but also for businesses and for the economy at large.

Meanwhile, a workshop on reviewing and drafting consumer protection and redress is currently underway in Suva.


Story by: Sofaia Koroitanoa