SOC 101: Society, Technology

and Engineering Ethics

Rights of the Consumers

 Who is a consumer?
Consumer is the person who use the utility of products, goods
or services.
 Rights of the consumers
• Right to the safety
• Right to be informed
• Right to the choice
• Right to be heard
• Rights to the satisfaction of basic needs
• Right to healthy environment
• Rights to be educated
• Right to the consumer’s representation
 Right to the safety
Consumers have right to consume the safe goods, products or services for their own
needs. The safety of the products must be ensured by the manufacturing companies.
According to the Special Powers Act 1974 under section 25(C), the highest
punishment for food adulteration is death penalty.
 Right to be informed
Consumers have right to be informed which product or goods they are going to be
consumed. They have right to know the
• Quality of the products
• Purity of the products
• Standard
• Manufacturing date
 Right of choice
Consumer will have the freedom to choose the products they
are going to be consumed. They will not be forced to choose.
 Right to consumer’s representation
Consumer’s representation needs to be ensured from
formulating to implementing the policies. Consumer’s voice
should be recognized.
 Right to a healthy environment
Consumers have right to live in good and healthy
environment and good health and well being, and
environmental sustainability need to be ensured for the next
generation.
 Right to be heard
Consumers have the right to raise their voice and complain
against the illegal, unlawful, forbidden and prohibited products.
The concern authority should heard the voice or the complain of
the consumers.
 Right to the satisfaction of the basic
needs
Consumers have the right to access the basic needs like food,
shelter, health care, clothing and education.
 Right to be educated
Consumers will be informed of the policies related to the
consumer rights of the government so that they can be
conscious while purchasing goods. This will enhance
knowledge and bring confident while choosing goods.
 Why consumer
protection is needed?
• For physical protection
• Protection from all forms of pollution
• Protection from illegal trade
• Protection from monopolistic trade
 How to protect
consumers
• Self help
• Self-regulation
• Government