Minister Urges Fair School Uniform Prices, Cracking Down on Exaggerated Deals

MGR Online•Politics•21d ago

Reader Briefing

Minister of the Prime Minister's Office inspects Bang Lamphu to ensure fair pricing and quality of school uniforms ahead of the new academic year.

•Minister Supamas Isaraphakdi visited Bang Lamphu to address issues with school uniform and supply pricing before the upcoming school term.
•The inspection aims to prevent exploitation of parents and protect consumers, addressing complaints about price gouging and substandard products.
•Regulations regarding product labeling and quality standards (TIS) are being enforced to ensure fair practices.

Overview

•On May 9, Supamas Isaraphakdi, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office, visited the Bang Lamphu trading area.
•The visit was to monitor the sale of school uniforms and supplies ahead of the upcoming school term, in order to prevent consumer exploitation.
•Supamas Isaraphakdi stated that the OCPB has received many complaints regarding consumer exploitation, particularly concerning excessive pricing and forced bundling.
•The Minister emphasized that school uniforms are considered controlled-label goods under the Consumer Protection Board's (OCPB) regulations.
•Violators of labeling laws for school uniforms face imprisonment and fines.
•The Minister requested cooperation from operators to offer affordable school uniform sets as an option for parents.
•Consumers are advised to check product details, compare prices, and verify labels and return policies before purchasing.
•Consumers can report suspected violations to the OCPB hotline at 1166 or other designated channels.

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Key Quotes

Supamas Isaraphakdi

"The OCPB has received numerous complaints about consumer exploitation, especially before the school term, finding excessively high prices, non-display of prices, forced bundling, substandard quality for the price, and incomplete labeling. Today, we are inspecting, not just to check, but to request cooperation from operators not to engage in illegal or exploitative practices."

สคบ. ได้รับเรื่องร้องเรียนเกี่ยวกับการเอารัดเอาเปรียบผู้บริโภคจำนวนมาก โดยเฉพาะในช่วงก่อนเปิดภาคเรียน พบว่า มีการตั้งราคาสูงเกินสมควร การไม่แสดงราคาสินค้า การบังคับซื้อพ่วง คุณภาพสินค้าไม่เหมาะสมกับราคารวมถึงฉลากสินค้าไม่ครบถ้วน วันนี้เราจึงลงพื้นที่ ไม่เพียงมาตรวจสอบแต่ยังขอความร่วมมือผู้ประกอบการ ไม่ให้เกิดการกระทำผิด หรือเอารัดเอาเปรียบผู้บริโภค

Supamas Isaraphakdi

"I emphasize to all operators to conduct business lawfully. If consumer exploitation is found, legal action will be taken decisively."

ดิฉันขอเน้นย้ำกับผู้ประกอบการทุกรายว่า ขอให้ทำธุรกิจตามกฎหมาย หากพบการเอาเปรียบผู้บริโภคจะดำเนินคดีอย่างเด็ดขาด

Key Entities

Person

Supamas(ศุภมาส)

Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office who inspected school uniform vendors in Bang Lamphu.

Supamas Isaraphakdi(นางสาวศุภมาส อิศรภักดี)

Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office, responsible for overseeing the OCPB, who led an inspection of school uniform sales.

Anutin Charnvirakul(นายอนุทิน ชาญวีรกูล)ℹ️

Prime Minister who expressed concern for consumers and tasked Minister Supamas with overseeing the OCPB's inspection of school uniform sales.

Patcharin Samsiripong(นางสาวพัชรินทร์ ซำศิริพงษ์)

Secretary to the Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office, present during the inspection of school uniform vendors.

Ronnarong Poolpipat(นายรณรงค์ พูลพิพัฒน์)

Secretary-General of the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB), accompanying the minister on her inspection tour.

Place

Bang Lamphu(บางลำพู)

A trading area in Bangkok where school uniform vendors were inspected.

Law

School Uniforms(ชุดนักเรียน)

A controlled-label good under OCPB regulations, subject to specific rules regarding pricing, labeling, and quality.

TIS 2137-2016(มอก. 2137-2016)

A Thai Industrial Standard that regulates the quality of fabric used in school uniforms.

TIS 2138-2016(มอก. 2138-2016)

A Thai Industrial Standard that regulates the quality of school uniforms.

Announcement of the Consumer Products Labelling Board Regarding the Determination of Product Categories as Label-Controlled Products B.E. 2022(ประกาศคณะกรรมการว่าด้วยฉลาก เรื่อง กำหนดประเภทของสินค้าให้เป็นสินค้าที่ควบคุมฉลาก พ.ศ. 2022)

The legal framework under which school uniforms are classified as controlled-label goods, mandating specific labeling requirements.

Organization

Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB)(สำนักงานคณะกรรมการคุ้มครองผู้บริโภค)

The government agency responsible for consumer protection, which received and investigated complaints about school uniform sales practices.

OCPB(สคบ.)

Abbreviation for the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, which is handling complaints and conducting inspections related to school uniform sales.