JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 13: Petrol attendant Boitshoko Mathe shrugs his shoulders at the Oxford Street Engen in Rosebank on July 13, 2011 in Johannesburg, South Africa where petrol pumps are dry. The ongoing strike by fuel industry unions is preventing depots from dispatching their tankers, which could result in a fuel crisis. (Photo by Gallo Images / Foto24 / Nicolene Olckers)
South Africa’s petrol attendants: How much do they really earn?
Here’s how much money petrol attendants earn in South Africa in 2018.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 13: Petrol attendant Boitshoko Mathe shrugs his shoulders at the Oxford Street Engen in Rosebank on July 13, 2011 in Johannesburg, South Africa where petrol pumps are dry. The ongoing strike by fuel industry unions is preventing depots from dispatching their tankers, which could result in a fuel crisis. (Photo by Gallo Images / Foto24 / Nicolene Olckers)
Petrol attendants are a uniquely South African feature, employed to manage the fuel pump, but often doing much more to brighten the dreary refuelling process.
In foreign countries, the petrol pumping process is a personal one. The presence of a station attendant, and the larger business sector that it forms part of, is often overlooked by motorists.
According to a recent report by Business Tech, the Fuel Retailer’s Association estimate that 70 000 people are employed nationwide as petrol attendants.
South Africa’s petrol attendants: Profiles
Research undertaken by the Fuel Retailer’s Association profile the average petrol attendant as being a man, 27 years of age, who tends to stay in the job for up to five years.
Petrol giant, Engen, has a just over 1000 refilling stations in South Africa. The company says it employs over 19,000 ‘service station staff’.
While petrol attendants play an important role in the micro-economy of South Africa, many report exploitative working conditions, abuse and unfair labour practices.
How much do petrol attendants earn?
While employment as a petrol attendant is generally considered a minimum wage job – and in some ways, it is – monthly income attained doesn’t reflect that rhetoric.
For a number of reasons: The National Minimum Wage (NMW) dictates, legally, the absolute lowest amount an employee can be paid – yet, often petrol attendants are paid according to where they work, and for which company.
It’s also become customary for motorists to tip petrol attendants – which voluntary remuneration increasing for services outside of filling the vehicle up with gas.
Service station attendants will offer to wash windows, check oil, and inflate tyres as a means of adding a few extra coins to their pockets. Thankfully, most South African’s recognise attendants as hard-working employees, who find themselves at the bottom end of the wage ladder.
All of these factors add to the final take-home salary of petrol attendants.
The Department of Energy along with members of the motoring industry have finalised wage increases for 2018/2019, which reflects:
- A cashier earns R1 382.40 a week, which works out to R30.72 per hour.
- A forecourt attendant earns R1 313.55 a week, which works out to R29.19 per hour.
- A parking garage attendant earns R752.40 a week, which works out to R16.72 per hour.
