Illustratory image. (source: SME - Marko Erd)
What if your television or vacuum cleaner has experienced a malfunction and the warranty period has already expired? The European Union has come up with a solution for all EU citizens.
A recent European Union directive mandates that manufacturers furnish affordable repair services within a reasonable period of time during the two-year warranty period and one year after the warranty expiration, if goods were repaired under warranty. After this legal guarantee is over, the manufacturer is still obligated to repair common household appliances, provided that they are repairable, according to a press release.
"Consumers' right to repair products will now become a reality," said MEP René Repasi.
The goal is to prevent consumers from having to buy new products. The premature disposal of goods generates 35 million tonnes of waste in the EU every year, and consumers also lose €12 billion each year by replacing goods rather than repairing them, according to the European Commission.
The Council is yet to approve the law passed in the European Parliament.
Directive is said to be a challenge
However, Slovakia is struggling with a shortage of repairers. The situation could get even worse, according to Andrej Lasz, the general secretary of Association of Industrial Unions and Transport. Thus, the implementation of the directive will be complicated, reports SITA newswire.
In Slovakia, appliance repairs are, for example, carried out by an electrical mechanic. Unfortunately, since the 2019-2020 school year, when 51 were admitted to schools, their numbers have been dwindling ever since. Only 21 have been admitted in the current school year.
The labour market needs a minimum of 45 new graduates a year and this does not account for the new directive.
"The directive is therefore a challenge not only for the electrical engineering industry, but also for the labour market in Slovakia," says the association.
The lack may become apparent in the Bratislava, Trnava, Trenčín and Žilina Regions. Since 2019, no new students have been admitted to schools that teach the craft in these four regions.
Going to a repair cafe
The EU also plans to launch a website where EU citizens could find a repair shop or a repair cafe near their area.
Furthermore, the EU wants its member states to promote the right to repair. It suggests several tips. It recommends launching information campaigns, supporting local initiatives to create repair laboratories, providing repair vouchers and funds, and supporting training programs to help people acquire skills in repair.
