The online sector is steadily gaining more popularity in Bangladesh given that the services are literally just a click away. Gone are the days when the online platform was for shopping only. In order to make busy lives easier, people are now resorting to practical services such as house cleaning and toilet cleaning. While it’s given that the ease and lack of hassle has made these services popular, the question that inevitably arises is: how safe are these services.
The online world is filled with temptations: parlour services such as facials, manicures, pedicures, household services such as house cleaning, bathroom cleaning and maid services amongst many others are brought to the doorsteps.
Although people, avail these services given the time-saving qualities, they have a hard time receiving the service with utmost security often worrying about safety. The primary reason for that is that a majority of these apps or Facebook pages are not associated with e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-CAB).
Considering that these services require the consumers to put in their personal information such as address and contact information and open their homes to strangers, the risk of accidents are increased many folds.
Moreover, there is no official monitoring of these organisations although they claim to have trade licences.
Rokhsana Sultana regularly avails pest control services online. Every three months someone from the service provider organisation comes and thoroughly sprays insecticides in the nooks and crannies of her house.
She says that she changes the locks after each service and is trying to find out how safe they people providing the services are.
A couple who also regularly avail online services say that they worry more when they have disagreements or arguments with the service providers.
They say that since they leave their child home, they spend the next few days worrying. They are of the view that an alternative to providing all personal information should be figured out.
Kohinoor Clean and Care, Dhaka Cleaners, Clean and Clear Platform Ltd are few of the household cleaning services providers.
Dhaka Cleaners owner Jakir Hassan says that legit documents and trade licence is enough security and does not see the necessity of being associated with E-CAB.
“There have been no problems so far. Documents of those such as national ID of those who work is kept in record,” he told Bangla Tribune.
Another online service provider is ‘Romoni.’ Claiming to be a beauty and wellness destination, they provide facials, haircuts and basically any parlour services at home.
‘Romoni’ owner Armeen Zaman says that they are associated with BASIS e-CAB but don’t have a member post.
“It’s not really compulsory. We are associated with e-Commerce under e-CAB and they monitor everything,” she said.
Meanwhile, e-CAB spokesperson Mehedi Hassan said many of the Facebook pages are not associated with them, not even Kohinoor Cleaning or Romoni and the only household service provider registered with them are sheba.xyz.
Responding to queries on if there are any other authorised organisation, he said, “There is BASIS but they are software related. Businesses can be run there without being our member but safety or resolution any complaints cannot be ensured.”
He said that the commerce ministry was working to establish a cell so that the recipients can lodge complaints.
“There is an e-Commerce guideline but it hasn’t yet been implemented,” said Additional Commerce Secretary Shafiqul Islam.
He added that work has been underway for a long time but the ministry doesn’t have specific information on how many people were involved with online services.