Bus, taxi association debates pension for members

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Bus, taxi association debates pension for members
Bus, taxi association debates pension for members

Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta), is working on a new pricing model that would see their members accessing pension funds, housing and funeral cover.

The new system would involve passengers paying for taxi services through vouchers with critical security features.

Nabta secretary general Pendapala Nakathingo says the new plan will go a long way in improving the living standards of their members.

Speaking at a press conference in Windhoek yesterday, Nakathingo said Nabta wants a system that puts extra money in their members’ pockets.

“Through this system, they will have benefits such as pension funds, housing and funeral cover,” he said.

Nakathingo said Nabta, in collaboration with locally owned companies, will introduce travel vouchers to ensure all vehicles and drivers transporting passengers are registered throughout the country.

Explaining how the travel voucher works, Nakathingo said upon boarding a taxi or long-distance bus, passengers would be issued a voucher and save N$2.

“The voucher contains critical security features that will provide for a safe travel experience and protect them from being hijacked and robbed,” he said.

Nakathingo said the new system would be able to accurately identify the taxi or bus a passenger travelled on, and drivers would earn as they drive.

“The vouchers will enable drivers to earn up to N$1 500 through an initiative called Earn-As-You-Drive, involving that a monthly benefit of N$100 will be contributed to their pension fund, and N$150 towards their housing benefits to improve their living standards,” he said.

Nakathingo said drivers would benefit most from the new system that would also reduce road accidents.

He said all registrations can be done through Nabta and E ‘n Z Technology for free.

“The introduction of the Nabta system would create more employment opportunities for the Namibian youth, such as professional drivers, transport engineers and mechanics,” he said.

Nakathingo said drivers who own plots, and prove it, would receive housing benefits.

“We will be engaging with the relevant stakeholders and the Ministry of Works and Transport. We are also calling for support from all stakeholders and individual experts to join hands in finding long-term and tangible solutions for our people,” he said.

Nakathingo said Nabta requires bus and taxi operators to produce some documents to register, and that they should visit the Nabta office for more information.

Ministry of Works and Transport spokesperson Julius Ngweda yesterday said he could not comment on engagements made by Nakathingo as they “are not legitimate”.

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