A new report by the Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE) has exposed significant disparities in wages paid to fuel attendants at different types of filling stations in Ghana.
The study found that foreign-owned filling stations, operated by dealer-owned companies, consistently pay lower wages compared to locally owned stations.
According to the report, fuel attendants at dealer-owned filling stations (Franchised-Stations) earn between GHC600 and GHC1,200 per month, while those employed at locally owned stations receive salaries ranging from GHC1,250 to GHC2,000. These disparities are particularly concerning given the substantial growth of Ghana’s petroleum downstream sector in recent years.
The study also highlighted other welfare issues faced by tanker drivers and fuel attendants, including lack of medical benefits, inadequate safety measures, and unpaid Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions.
CEMSE has called on regulators to act to address these disparities and improve the working conditions of employees in the petroleum downstream sector. The study recommends that regulators enforce the 2017 emolument framework signed by stakeholders for tanker drivers. The framework should be adjusted to account for inflation and ensure compliance.
The report recommends that the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) develop a compensation framework for fuel attendants and their Oil marketing Companies (OMCs) to ensure equitable pay across the industry. This will also help reduce under delivery of petroleum products by some fuel attendants at the fuel stations.
Additionally, the study suggests the creation of a credit institution to provide financial support to workers and the enforcement of a medical compliance framework.
CEMSE urges the NPA and other stakeholders to take these recommendations seriously to improve the welfare of tanker drivers and fuel attendants. contributing to the country’s economic growth.
Eben Agyekum-Boateng, 3Business
