Work has started in Seychelles on a new consumer protection bill for the financial sector. The process, now in the public consultative stage, is being undertaken by the Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS) and the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

 

According to CBS, the consumer protection framework is aimed at promoting international principles such as equitable and fair treatment of consumers, increased transparency, responsible pricing, protection of data and privacy, as well as complaint handling and resolution.

 

Currently the law allows for both the consumers and the financial service providers to mediate their differences among themselves further to seeking direct mediatory assistance from the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority as the financial regulators.

 

“The benefit of the consultations is that in view that the financial services affect the public in regards to access to those services as individuals and businesses, it will help them to engage with us to highlight their concerns such that we are clear that the proposed legislation has covered the maximum realities that they are facing,” explained Begitta Vital.

 

Vital, the senior market conduct analyst of the Financial Inclusion and Market Conduct division at CBS was speaking at the public consultative in Victoria, last weekend.

 

Ms Vital giving a presentation during the meeting two weeks ago. (Louis Toussaint, Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY

Vital added that while it is the obligation of the financial service providers to show transparency in their services, it will also be the responsibility of the consumers, among other responsibilities, to educate themselves on the products and services on offer and to also bear in mind to respect their terms of contract and obligations.

 

The bill being proposed will give both regulators more power than before to directly mediate disputes between clients and financial service providers. Non-compliance with the law by the financial service providers will result in the suspension of licenses in part or in full, partial or total suspension of products and services or to refund the consumer affected.

The chief executive of the Financial Services Authority added that the piece of legislation will cover banks, bureau de change, mobile money, gambling institutions, and insurance companies. Steve Fanny explained that the input of the general public at these consultations is crucial.

 

“The law will affect a lot of people and it would have been appreciated to get their input on it before it is passed. We expected a bigger turnout on Mahe because most providers are here on the island and we wanted to get their views on the matter,” said Fanny.

 

The need to introduce a consumer protection framework in Seychelles – 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean - was among the priorities identified in the Financial Sector Development Implementation Plan adopted by the government in 2014. 

 

The two institutions have worked in collaboration with relevant stakeholders within the financial sector, particularly institutions falling under their regulatory purview, to develop the necessary policy proposals, which were approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in November 2017.