Drivers around the country will be filling petrol for their vehicles themselves as service stations switch to self serve from today.
The process however will bring an end to the career of 400 bowser attendants.
However, Operations manager for Kundan Singh Service Station, Mohammed Feroz, maintains that it is high time that self service must be practiced in Fiji adding that the changes will bring back returns to the owners of Service Stations.
Feroz said with the new operation, 11 employees have been laid off from different sites.
Meanwhile, Director of Trade winds Marine Limited John Phillip who runs Total Hibiscus in Suva, Total Lami and Total Lautoka Autoport said most of the service station owners do not have a choice.
Phillip said increasing costs have made it impossible for them to earn profits and they already gave up on one of their service station in Nabua this year.
According to Fiji Fuel Retailers Brochure, there are signs at the service stations that inform the customer whether to pre- pay or post pay.
If it's prepay, customers go directly to the cashier in the office and pay for the amount of fuel a customer wishes to buy, and the cashier communicates that amount electronically to the pump where the vehicle is parked.
With post pay customers have to go to the cashier after refueling and then pay.
The cashier will have been informed by the computer of the amount owed.
There will be an attendant available during the change over period and special assistance for drivers with disabilities will always be available.
Story by: Praneeta Deo and Tokasa Rainima
Feature
Service stations go self-service from today
