Verified public scales set for Kampong Speu markets
KAMPONG Speu province plans to install five accurate scales in markets across the province in order to guarantee the accuracy of market vendors’ scales. The public will be able to ensure that the weight of goods they are quoted when purchasing are verifiable.
Nuon Sophoan, director of the provincial Department of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, said on March 14 that the department had installed two sets of scales at Kampong Speu Market in Chbar Mon town last week, with three more set to be added in Phnom Sruoch district next week.
He said that installing these scales required the local authorities to assign orders to the director of each market, ensuring they would accept responsibility for maintaining and verifying the scales annually. This would be necessary as the scales could be damaged by the elements.
Each set of scales could weigh up to 10kg. Four were received from the National Metrology Centre, while the fifth was purchased by the department.
Sopoan confirmed that the scales had been certified as accurate by the metrology centre.
“Before the scales were installed, their accuracy was confirmed.We didn’t just buy any old scales from the market and use them right away,” he said.
Chbar Morn town governor Hok Marady said fraudulent scales often occur at pork, beef, fish and vegetable stalls, so the scales should be installed near those locations.
He said vendors’ scales were sometimes the subject of complaints and in some cases led to heated arguments or even violence.
“The department has provided the scales, but the town authorities are responsible for them now. I hope we find a safe place for them to be stored – I would hate to see them stolen,” he said.
He requested that all citizens – both traders and buyers – take care of the scales as they had been provided for the common good.
Transparency International Cambodia executive director Pich Pisey said the installation of the scales was a good way to ensure the accuracy and integrity of trade as the losses from exploitation or unfair sales seriously affected people’s budgets and the quality of goods.
“For example, if we paid 10,000 riel [$2.50] per kg for a product but in fact we only get 0.85kg or 0.9kg, the loss would multiply over many months and years. We are talking about substantial losses,” he said.
Sim Srey Nao, a resident near Treng Trayeung Market in Phnom Sruoch district, said she was happy to know that an accurate scale would be set up. If any vendors had been taking advantage of customers, they would not stop out of fear of being caught.
“It will make vendors sell their goods at the correct weight and people won’t lose money from unfair scales,” she said.