Retail draft fast-tracked
The Commerce Ministry will today propose the long-awaited draft retail business law to the screening committee for consideration, without the public hearing that other acts have.
A ministry source said yesterday that the government wanted to accelerate implementation of the act during its short administration. The draft mainly aims to control the expansion of retail giants in communities where it is thought they could directly damage small local retailers. It also establishes fair trade between suppliers and modern trade operators and department stores. The act has been drafted since 2002, but was never implemented as the Thaksin government did not approve it. The changes to the draft were finished last month in response to small retailers' demands that the government control what they believe is the aggressive expansion of retail giants into communities. Meanwhile, large retailers have asked the government to conduct public hearings as they fear the act will focus on controlling only them. The source quoted Commerce Minister Krirk-krai Jirapaet as saying a public hearing would delay implementation, affecting many small retailers. Some parties could obstruct implementation during the process because the act would create difficulties for certain interests. Krirk-krai insists the act is fair to all involved, including consumers, producers, suppliers and small and large retailers, the source said.
Petchanet Pratruangkrai The Nation
|
