Service station conference

The Association of Service Station Owners (ASSO) met this week for a one-day conference to discuss issues facing the local fuel industry.  The association said its aim is to promote and protect the interest of fuel retailers through the creation of a healthy environment that secures value-added initiatives. The conference, which was sponsored by Bank Windhoek with N$15,000 discussed the ongoing issue of debit/credit card payments at service stations after the petrol/fuel card was phased out earlier this year, the introduction of E-banking and policy changes from oil companies.  The issue of workers strikes, which led to negotiations on minimum wages between ASSO, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and other parties were also on the conference agenda.

  A panel of experts clarified the new Bill on Minimum Wages for service station workers and what it meant for service station owners.  “Service station owners are an important stakeholder group for Bank Windhoek, hence our support to ASSO to host this conference. We understand that some issues, including the acceptance of debit/credit card for fuel payment are still a matter of concern for many service station owners. However, to make things easier, Bank Windhoek introduced a fuel debit card to corporate clients who own vehicle fleets, or have sales representatives, or to certain individual clients who have a specific need to manage fuel expenses separately”, said Riaan van Rooyen, Head: Corporate Communication and Social Investment at Bank Windhoek.   “Bank Windhoek has sponsored the ASSO conference for the past eight years and we are grateful for their support, which have made it possible for ASSO to host the event and bring service stations owners from across the country to discuss issues of mutual concern”, said Rupert Harmse, outgoing Chairman of the Association of Service Station Owners. Koos van der Merwe of East End Service Station was elected as new chairman.