Top leader calls for stronger consumer protection against measurement fraud

Speaking during group discussions at the second session of the 16th National Assembly on October 17, the top leader highlighted the need to ensure fairness in commercial transactions, improve productivity and quality, and strengthen technological self-reliance as lawmakers consider amendments to the Law on Measurement.

Measurement errors and fraud can cause financial losses to consumers, undermine businesses’ market competitiveness and affect critical decisions, he said.

He proposed developing measurement capabilities to strengthen economic self-reliance, using digital transformation to improve the reliability of measurement results and reduce compliance costs, and protecting consumers’ rights whenever measurement errors or fraud occur.

“When electricity or water metres, or fuel dispensers, are found to have been tampered with, the period and scope of the impact, the amount wrongly collected, and the responsibility for refunds and compensation must be established,” he said.

“It is not enough to impose penalties while leaving the rights of those affected unresolved.”

He also raised concerns about cases in which inaccurate medical equipment could lead to incorrect assessments of a patient’s health, underscoring the need to hold relevant parties accountable and put people’s interests first.

The proposed amendments to the Law on Measurement are being considered alongside broader efforts to modernise regulatory practices, promote digital transformation and improve the effectiveness of state management.

Postal services reform focuses on consumer rights

At the same group discussion, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam also called for revisions to the Law on Postal Services to expand development opportunities, ensure fair competition and clarify regulatory responsibilities as postal services increasingly intersect with transport, logistics and e-commerce.

He held that essential postal services should remain accessible to all people, while the law should clearly define service coverage, quality requirements, affordability and funding responsibilities.

Public-service performance, he noted, should be assessed by the quality and value of services delivered to users, rather than simply by the number of service points maintained.

The top leader requested clearer mechanisms for handling complaints and paying compensation when parcels are lost or damaged across multiple service providers.

He supported the principle that the company entering into a service contract with a customer should bear ultimate responsibility. He also noted convenient complaint procedures, clear resolution deadlines and transparent compensation limits.

National Assembly President Tran Thanh Man, commenting on the draft Postal Services Law, underscored that the proposed legislation would shift the regulatory approach from pre-licensing to registration and data-based post-inspection.

The draft would reduce the number of administrative procedures from 14 to one electronic registration procedure, he said, describing the direction as consistent with efforts to reduce barriers to market entry and support the digital economy.

However, effective post-inspection would require reliable data and sufficiently strong monitoring tools, the National Assembly chief said. He called for clearer requirements on data sharing, parcel identification and incident reporting, alongside a roadmap for mandatory digital transformation for large enterprises and technical support for smaller businesses.

The two draft laws are among the legislative proposals being discussed at the second session of the 16th National Assembly, which opened on October 17.

Government links 2027 growth ambitions to productivity and reform

VOV.VN - Vietnam is seeking to translate its ambition for rapid economic growth into tangible development gains in 2027, with the government targeting GDP per capita of US$6,100 while prioritising productivity improvements, institutional reform and more effective use of national resources.