Please tip your petrol attendants – here’s how much they earn

A survey has revealed that South Africans have a poor tipping culture when it comes to petrol attendants. Unlike restaurants that already include a ‘service tip’ in a bill, fuelling stations do not have this luxury. But petrol attendants deserve to get tipped, right?

There is no denying that most people in the country are financially stretched, but petrol attendants play an important role in motorists’ daily lives. Apart from pumping fuel, they perform maintenance tasks, including cleaning windshields, checking oil and water levels, and ensuring optimal tyre pressure. Data from Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) has revealed that the fuel retail sector plays an important role in employment, especially in Gauteng.

The sector had 140 000 employees in 2019, which has likely increased since then, with petrol stations in the country growing. However, due to the shift to electric vehicles, these jobs are at risk. “The transition to electric vehicles will significantly affect petrol station workers, whose employment is largely dependent on the sale of liquid fuels,” reads the report.

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“Without adequate preparation, more than 140 000 people stand to lose their jobs between now and the final shift to full use of electric vehicles.” Gauteng has the highest share of petrol station workers, which accounts for roughly a third of petrol station jobs, followed by KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. “In all, these three provinces account for about two thirds of total petrol station employment in the country,” reads the report. Petrol attendants in the country receive R45.79 per hour, according to theMotor Industry Bargaining Council (MIBCO) wage tables.

This is more than thenational minimum wage of R30.23. Given that most fuelling stations operate 24 hours a day, it is reasonable to assume that these employees work at least 12 hours, although there is no official document to support this. At the end of the month, petrol attendants receive at least R8 242, while cashiers earn slightly less (R8 154). Tipping petrol attendants has become customary in the country, and adds to their wages at the end of the month.

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