Bahrain is preparing to issue a legal regulation for the e-commerce process, including trade through social media such as Instagram and other social media and websites, which are not currently subject to registration or official regulation.
According to expected scenarios, all accounts that sell products or offer commercial services must obtain a registration number and an official license from the Ministry of Industry and Trade to practice commercial activity, which may be for a certain fee, and in return these records obtain privileges, including obtaining Recognition and legal form, which qualifies them to benefit from the services obtained by traditionally licensed businesses.
However, nearly two years ago, when some accounts were informed that they might have to obtain a license, otherwise their work would be considered illegal, many of the owners of these accounts became angry.
Law review after fee concerns
Regarding his point of view in regulating the work of commerce through websites and social media, MP Ahmed Salloum says that he supports regulating the commerce process through websites and communication applications.
Al-Salloum explained that a law was issued regulating trade through electronic platforms and channels, including “Instagram”, earlier, but there were concerns regarding the fees imposed for that.
“We called for a review of the law so that the focus is on the issue of commerce through websites and platforms without there being additional fees for users of these channels,” Al-Salloum affirmed.
He added, “We are with the organization, but not with the addition of fees. All those who use Instagram and the channels represent families or young men and women who did not find suitable job opportunities, which made them turn to that.”
“We want to organize this process so that the beneficiaries provide protected services and products,” he added.
Representative Al-Salloum returned to confirm the existence of a need to regulate the trade process through websites and means of communication, “In order to protect the beneficiaries of these accounts alongside the consumers, we need to have a law that regulates, in the event of disagreements or disputes, there is a reference that can be referred to when there are such cases. This will be For the benefit of all.”
“With the existence of a law, everyone will get their rights, but we are not in favor of imposing fees, because they will carry additional burdens that we do not need,” he said.
Equality for all is required
As for the expert in institutional affairs, Ali Makki, he went in his opinion to what Salloum went to, but he pointed to a fundamental point in this matter, according to his opinion, which is the issue of “justice.”
Makki says that it is unfair that there is a business owner who pays commercial registration fees and government fees to state ministries such as health, transportation and other state departments, in order to be able to carry out his commercial activity that is subject to the supervision of various these agencies, and in return there are those who do similar businesses. Without having these supervisory and regulatory obligations, and therefore the cost of the product and service will differ in both parties.
Makki pointed out that the Kingdom of Bahrain is not the only country that is moving towards regulating online sales and platforms, but there are countries that have taken such a step.
On the other hand, he indicated that regulating electronic commerce will allow the official authorities in the country to exercise control in preserving the interests of various parties, especially consumers, especially if dealing is done electronically without the existence of an identification of the persons who run commercial activities, which will be defined as unknown persons.
He explained that regulating sales via platforms means that there should be a legal record that allows reference to it in the event of disputes and to preserve the rights of the various parties.
On the other hand, Makki indicated that the registration process will provide privileges to account holders who manage online commerce.
Expanding home projects
For his part, the head of the Small and Medium Enterprises Association, Abdul Hassan Al-Dairi, believes that the process of regulating trade through social media and websites is required, but the balance of interest of the various parties must be taken into account on the principle of “no harm, no harm,” especially since a large segment benefits from this type of projects.
He stressed that it is natural that any new organization of an economic sector will create fears and misunderstanding at the beginning of the implementation, hence the role of gradualness in the application process and the intensification of awareness campaigns and introducing changes in cooperation with various civil society institutions.
Al-Dairi believed that the organization process could be an incentive for these accounts to merge and unite to be large institutions, or to obtain support and sponsorship in order to achieve growth in their business.
He explained that the existence of a legal entity for the electronic account that carries out trade will facilitate many procedures and the conclusion of partnerships and alliances on a larger scale.
Al-Bilad newspaper warns the various profitable electronic news platforms, of the need to be careful, as stipulated in the law on the protection of intellectual property rights, against the illegality of transmitting or quoting the content of this journalistic article, even if the source is indicated.
