The Asean Economic Community (AEC) is only three years away. A drastic change that will transform the economic and social landscapes of the country is around the corner. Yet, the populace is still very much ill-prepared for it.
Improve your English. That is the main message the locals get from the government which is busy telling state agencies and businesses to streamline and standardise their practices to facilitate smooth trade transactions. In other words, to make money.
There has been little concern over how to create a level playing field or to set up systems to cushion the adverse impacts on small people who will be hard hit by menacing penetration of their local economies.
The government likes to emphasise the huge economic opportunities from the 600 million strong market in the AEC. Yet, it has failed to recognise that this also means 600 million consumers who might be bombarded by hazardous products and sub-standard services if there are no protection systems in place.
It is good news then that consumer protection bodies in Asean have joined forced to act as a regional pressure group to ensure fair business practices, fair competition, and correction information in the marketplace.
During the Asean Consumers Council's meeting this week in Bangkok, it was revealed that Thailand is lagging behind its neighbours in consumer protection.
For example, Bisphenol A or BPA in baby bottles and children's drinking cups. BPA is a toxic chemical which may cause numerous health problems such as hyperactivity, attention deficit, cancer risks, and thyroid hormone disruption. Singapore and Malaysia have already banned BPA in baby bottles and cups for toddlers. Other countries which have done the same include Denmark, France, Turkey, and several states in the United States. Yet these BPA-containing products for babies and toddlers are still widely available in Thailand.
In addition, few realise that BPA is also used in plastic bottles and food packaging and that regular exposure to BPA among adults can lead to recurring miscarriages in women and declining sexual function in men.
Asbestos, another toxic chemical used in construction materials, has also been banned in several countries around the world, including Malaysia and Singapore. The powerful asbestos lobby in Thailand, however, has succeeded in delaying its ban here. If other Asean countries follow Malaysia and Singapore's example, it is inevitable that Thailand will be the dumping ground for toxic asbestos in this region.
These are just two examples of the toxic products which the government allows to hurt people's health on a daily basis. More will come to light if there is a regional mechanism to support information exchange and dissemination, which is now lacking.
On a regional level, the 600 million consumers in Asean will be better protected if one product which is banned for its health hazards in one country is also banned in the rest of the Asean community. All Asean governments are stressing the need to abide by the same rule for economic activities. There is no reason why they cannot do the same to protect their own citizens' health.
At the domestic level, the Yingluck government must no longer delay the people-sponsored bill to set up an independent consumer protection body which will take irresponsible business operators to court and seek compensation for the victims.
At present, consumers are not protected because the operators know they can get away with murder. This must stop.