Bangkok: Santi Piyatat, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, has called for collaboration from online platforms to regulate food prices through the “Half-Half Plus” program, ensuring prices remain stable and prohibiting any increases. He has also launched 10 hotlines for the Consumer Protection Board (CPB) to handle complaints.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Santi, who supervises the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB), announced that the OCPB has partnered with five e-commerce platforms to implement consumer protection measures. Delivery platforms involved in the “Kon La Khrueng Plus” program are required to maintain current pricing levels. Additionally, discussions with online platforms have addressed reducing service fees for participating merchants and offering discount promotions, providing consumers with a dual benefit: a 50% discount, up to 200 baht, from the program, alongside additional discounts from the platforms.
The OCPB has set up 10 new hotlines to assist consumers facing unfair treatment under the Half-Half Plus program. Complaints are expedited into mediation immediately, bypassing the typical waiting period, addressing approximately 10,000 complaints annually. The time required for mediation will depend on the complexity of each case.
Mr. Santi further mentioned that the OCPB plans to publish a list of e-commerce companies registered with its direct sales or marketing website to aid consumer decisions. Registered companies will have quicker verification processes, as they are recognized as reputable and insured against damages.
Representatives from five e-commerce service providers, including Shopee (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Lazada Co., Ltd., TikTok Shop (Thailand) Co., Ltd., GrabTaxi (Thailand) Co., Ltd., and Lineman (Thailand) Co., Ltd., met with Mr. Santi to discuss consumer protection measures related to the Half-Half Plus project. They also addressed the monitoring of e-cigarette and illegal product sales.
The meeting emphasized the importance of tightening restrictions on the sale of e-cigarettes and illegal products via online platforms. The government, alongside agencies such as the OCPB and the police, is actively working to prevent and suppress these activities, as reported in the news.
Reporters noted that following the press conference, Mr. Santi conducted an inspection of the Government House cafeteria, assessing spending under the “Half-Half Plus” program. He also dined at various eateries within the premises.