With an increasing number of people making use of online platforms to do businesses, questions of business ethics and legality are being raised. The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MoEA) says people doing business without a license will be imposed penalty and barred from obtaining a license in future.
Like any other businesses, people are required to have e-commerce license in order to carry out any commercial activities online.
According to the MoEA Minister, people are not allowed to do online business unless they have an e-commerce licence. As per the record maintained with the Ministry, today there are only about 30 e-commerce license holders in the country.
“Informally there are also many who are without a license but trying to do online business. This is the modern world of technology where we cannot control everything but ethically it’s wrong, so, therefore, it is better for them to obtain a license and then do online businesses that way it will also be authentic and it’s better for them. I would like to suggest, those who are doing online business, getting products from somewhere and trying to sell to others, they shouldn’t practise that unless they have a license,” said Loknath Sharma, the MoEA Minister.
And, the increasing number of people doing online business in the country is affecting the licensed shopkeepers who are dependent on the business for everything. They say they cannot keep up with the competition since the people doing an online business can compromise with the price.
“We are facing stiff competition. Same products are being sold at a cheaper rate online making us difficult to compete. We have to pay tax and pay rents, however since they do not have to pay rent and tax, they sell at a very cheaper rate. When customers visit our shop, they compare our actual price with online and refuse to buy from us,” complains Dorji Norbu, a shopkeeper.
“It’s very difficult for me to do a business now. Hardly, only two to three customers come to my shop. Before, my business used to run so well. Now the CCTV is also useless,” added Geeta Maya Timsina, a shopkeeper in Thimphu.
Although challenging, the Ministry is working on e-commerce policy which will guide the overall online and e-commerce business of the country.
Pema Seldon Tshering
