Tribune News Network
Doha
Merchants, service providers and suppliers must use Arabic as the main language for issuing invoices and providing information on products and call center services offered to consumers, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) has said.
In a circular issued on Monday, the MEC has granted suppliers and service providers a deadline until March 31, 2017 to complete issuance of bills, lists of services and product labels in Arabic. The failure to comply with the deadline would invite legal action against the violators, it said.
Article (2) of the Law No. (8) of 2008 on consumer protection stipulates that consumers have a right to access accurate information on goods and services purchased or offered to them. Articles (7), (8) and (11) make it mandatory for suppliers to use Arabic when labeling and packaging products, issuing invoices and providing description of goods.
The ministry launched the initiative after noticing an increase in the use of foreign languages in providing information on products and services, issuing invoices and providing customers support, which leads to a lack of transparency and difficulty in easily accessing information on various goods and services.
Beauty salons, hotels, maintenance centers, travel and tourism agencies, suppliers and service providers are obliged to dedicate at least one Arabic-speaking employee at reception desks.
According to the MEC circular, the information written on the label of a product or services, the description of the characteristics and advertisements must be in Arabic with the option of providing the information in a second language to remain open.
At least one Arabic-speaking employee must be dedicated to display properties of the services to the customers. Invoices must be issued in Arabic to document transactions or agreements with consumers regarding products or services.
Guarantee statements must also be issued in Arabic while the option of using an additional language remains open. Merchants, suppliers and service providers are also required to hire an Arabic speaker to process consumer complaints and inquiries and provide after-sales services at both customer service centres in malls or through call centres.
For products such as cars, electronics, clothes, toys and consumer goods, the suppliers and service providers are obliged to hire at least one Arabic-speaking employee at reception desks at hotels, shopping malls, car showrooms, maintenance centres and other stores that require such a service.
The MEC has called on all merchants, service providers and owners of major outlets that do not offer statements and invoices in Arabic to comply with the circular and to localise data, billing and other services provided to consumers.
The initiative aims to promote the use of the Arabic language in a bid to earn consumer confidence by offering clients all legal guarantees and opportunity to acquire relevant information about products, invoices and exchange and return policies. The use of Arabic also allows consumers to communicate easily and inquire about their rights when purchasing a product or after acquiring it.
The ministry said it will conduct investigative campaigns to monitor the suppliers' compliance with the circular and necessary legal actions will be taken in case of violations.