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Ajman teams monitor essential items’ prices

AJMAN — Ajman Municipality has formed official teams to monitor price of essential items following the public sector salary increase, an official has said.

It has set up an emergency number (993) to receive complaints from public about foodstuffs price hike in shops and outlets, Saif Al Shamsi, the Deputy Director of Ajman Municipality, has said.

“A number of merchants might consider increasing the prices of consumer products which will make life difficult for both citizens and residents,” Al Shamsi told Khaleej Times.

“The people working in private institutions will be more affected, as there is no raise in their salaries. So that Ajman Municipality has formed teams to supervise the prices in the market and to ensure that the prices remain within affordable limits.”

Al Shamsi hailed the gesture of His Highness Shaikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ajman, in taking prompt steps to pre-empt a price rise.

The teams have started inspecting shops to ensure that prices have not recently increased.

The municipality in coordination with the Ministry of Economy is seeking to fix prices of all products and make it obligatory for merchants to list products’ prices.

Al Shamsi said it is not fair to let this money from the increment go to pockets of greedy merchants, who increase prices along following every salary increase.

“This gesture (salary increase) was meant to help people improve their financial situation and improve the quality of life.”

He pointed out that merchants are claiming that the country has a free market economy and, therefore, they have the right to raise the prices any time they want.

“This is a wrong idea because economic freedom has a limit which is meant for the benefit of both the consumer and the merchants,” Al Shamsi said.

He stressed the need for cooperation among the UAE municipalities, Economy Department and the public to control the markets.

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