MIBCO wages 2026/27 for panel shops and workshops.
Check the legal minimum for every job in your workshop, the 1 September increase, overtime and the holiday bonus. Then see what an hour of each person really costs you.
From MIBCO's Main Agreement (Government Gazette 53822), checked 9 October 2026. Free to use, nothing to sign up for.
Minimum per hour, 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027
- Panel beaters and spray painters (Grade 8)
- R95.25
- PR artisans (Grade 7)
- R83.32
- Body shop assistants (Grade 5)
- R55.69
- General workers (Grade 2)
- R42.24
Next increase: 1 September 2027.
Wage checker
Pick a job and see what the law says
Add what you pay now to check it, and to work out overtime, the holiday bonus and the real cost of an hour.
Legal minimum
R95.25 an hour
- Weekly
- R4 286.25 a week (45 hours)
- Monthly estimate
- about R18 573.75 a month
Panel beater (XA, Grade 8), 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027. The monthly figure is weekly × 52 ÷ 12; MIBCO sets weekly and hourly rates.
Increases
From 1 September 2026: staff who already earned more than the minimum must get at least R4.54 more an hour (R204.30 a week).
On 1 September 2027 the minimum goes up to R100.01 an hour (R4 500.45 a week). Staff already above the minimum must get at least R4.76 more an hour (R214.20 a week).
Staff with under 12 months' service may get a pro-rata increase from their 7th month. If you gave someone more than the required increase in the 12 months before, you may count it once against this one.
Overtime and Sundays
- Overtime, 06:00 to 23:00: R142.88 an hour (1.5 times)
- Overtime, 23:00 to 06:00: R190.50 an hour (double)
- Sunday work: R190.50 (double), or R142.88 if they normally work Sundays
Worked out from R95.25 an hour (the minimum). Overtime only starts after 45 ordinary hours in the week, and no one may work more than 10 hours of overtime a week.
Holiday bonus
No holiday bonus for this job. Instead you pay additional holiday pay of R140.01 a week (R7 280.52 over a full year).
It goes to MIBCO with your monthly returns and MIBCO pays it out to the employee. Weeks with under 23 hours of wages do not count, apart from sickness and short-time.
Send this result to your bookkeeper or a partner.
Step two
What does an hour of this person really cost you?
You pay for every hour on the clock, but customers and insurers only pay for hours spent on their jobs. Fill in what applies to your shop.
Using R95.25 an hour for a panel beater, the legal minimum.
To use a different rate, change what you pay them above.
MIBCO's ordinary week is up to 45 hours.
MIBCO gives 3 weeks' annual leave per leave cycle.
South Africa has 12 public holidays a year.
Your best guess for this person.
Your estimate. The rest goes on cleaning up, waiting for parts, redoing work and admin.
Your share of provident fund or medical aid, sick pay fund and MIBCO levies, plus overalls and tools.
Each hour on a paying job costs you
R147.70
Every paid hour costs R99.27 once holiday pay, UIF and your other costs are added.
A year of this person
- Wages
- R222 885.00
- Additional holiday pay
- R7 280.52
- UIF (your 1%)
- R2 125.44
- Skills levy (1%)
- R0.00
- Other costs
- R0.00
- Total
- R232 290.96
Hours paid: 2 340. At work: 2 097. On paying jobs: 1 573. UIF is capped at the R17 712 a month earnings ceiling.
Guessing the share of time on paying jobs? PanelDesk's staff clock-in records the hours each person is really at work, with overtime flagged, so this number stops being a guess.
Figures from the MIBCO Main Collective Agreement (Government Gazette 53822, Notice R.6927 of 12 December 2025), checked 9 October 2026. A guide, not legal advice.
Know the real hours, not a guess
PanelDesk's kiosk clock-in and timesheets show who worked how long, flag overtime and export for payroll. 30 days free, no card.
Full tables
MIBCO wage tables for 2026/27
Sector 4 workshops, which include panel shops. Hourly rates are for a 45-hour week. Monthly figures are weekly × 52 ÷ 12.
| Grade | Per hour | Per week | About a month | Panel shop jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 8 | R95.25 | R4 286.25 | R18 573.75 | Panel beater, spray painter, automotive trimmer |
| Grade 7 | R83.32 | R3 749.40 | R16 247.40 | PR artisan (recognised through experience), unqualified worker doing artisan work, workshop foreman (not trade tested) |
| Grade 6 | R66.89 | R3 010.05 | R13 043.55 | Other workshop jobs |
| Grade 5 | R55.69 | R2 506.05 | R10 859.55 | Body shop assistant, supervisor (not clerical), tow truck driver (over 3 500 kg) |
| Grade 4 | R49.95 | R2 247.75 | R9 740.25 | Other workshop jobs |
| Grade 3 | R45.73 | R2 057.85 | R8 917.35 | Tow truck driver (up to 3 500 kg), driver (light vehicle) |
| Grade 2 | R42.24 | R1 900.80 | R8 236.80 | General worker |
| Grade 1 | R31.74 | R1 428.30 | R6 189.30 | Cleaner |
| Scheme | Year or level 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice, 3-year contract | R46.07 | R57.13 | R70.23 | Not applicable |
| Apprentice, 4-year contract | R46.07 | R50.53 | R57.13 | R70.23 |
| NQF learnership | R46.07 | R50.53 | R57.13 | R70.23 |
| CBMT learner | R43.93 | R54.87 | R65.96 | R76.78 |
Rates for 22 December 2025 to 31 August 2026
| Grade | Per hour | Per week | About a month | Panel shop jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 8 | R90.71 | R4 081.95 | R17 688.45 | Panel beater, spray painter, automotive trimmer |
| Grade 7 | R79.35 | R3 570.75 | R15 473.25 | PR artisan (recognised through experience), unqualified worker doing artisan work, workshop foreman (not trade tested) |
| Grade 6 | R63.70 | R2 866.50 | R12 421.50 | Other workshop jobs |
| Grade 5 | R53.04 | R2 386.80 | R10 342.80 | Body shop assistant, supervisor (not clerical), tow truck driver (over 3 500 kg) |
| Grade 4 | R47.57 | R2 140.65 | R9 276.15 | Other workshop jobs |
| Grade 3 | R43.55 | R1 959.75 | R8 492.25 | Tow truck driver (up to 3 500 kg), driver (light vehicle) |
| Grade 2 | R40.23 | R1 810.35 | R7 844.85 | General worker |
| Grade 1 | R30.23 | R1 360.35 | R5 894.85 | Cleaner |
| Scheme | Year or level 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice, 3-year contract | R44.73 | R55.47 | R68.18 | Not applicable |
| Apprentice, 4-year contract | R44.73 | R49.06 | R55.47 | R68.18 |
| NQF learnership | R44.73 | R49.06 | R55.47 | R68.18 |
| CBMT learner | R42.65 | R53.27 | R64.04 | R74.54 |
Rates for 1 September 2027 to 31 August 2028
| Grade | Per hour | Per week | About a month | Panel shop jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 8 | R100.01 | R4 500.45 | R19 501.95 | Panel beater, spray painter, automotive trimmer |
| Grade 7 | R87.49 | R3 937.05 | R17 060.55 | PR artisan (recognised through experience), unqualified worker doing artisan work, workshop foreman (not trade tested) |
| Grade 6 | R70.23 | R3 160.35 | R13 694.85 | Other workshop jobs |
| Grade 5 | R58.47 | R2 631.15 | R11 401.65 | Body shop assistant, supervisor (not clerical), tow truck driver (over 3 500 kg) |
| Grade 4 | R52.45 | R2 360.25 | R10 227.75 | Other workshop jobs |
| Grade 3 | R48.02 | R2 160.90 | R9 363.90 | Tow truck driver (up to 3 500 kg), driver (light vehicle) |
| Grade 2 | R44.35 | R1 995.75 | R8 648.25 | General worker |
| Grade 1 | R33.33 | R1 499.85 | R6 499.35 | Cleaner |
| Scheme | Year or level 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice, 3-year contract | R47.45 | R58.84 | R72.34 | Not applicable |
| Apprentice, 4-year contract | R47.45 | R52.05 | R58.84 | R72.34 |
| NQF learnership | R47.45 | R52.05 | R58.84 | R72.34 |
| CBMT learner | R45.25 | R56.52 | R67.94 | R79.08 |
Which grade is each job?
MIBCO grades every job with a code (Annexure E). These are the ones panel shops use most.
| Job | Code | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Panel beater | XA | 8 |
| Spray painter | XK | 8 |
| Automotive trimmer | XE | 8 |
| PR artisan (recognised through experience) | XZ | 7 |
| Unqualified worker doing artisan work | XX | 7 |
| Workshop foreman (not trade tested) | XU | 7 |
| Body shop assistant | QT | 5 |
| Supervisor (not clerical) | QS | 5 |
| Tow truck driver (over 3 500 kg) | BU | 5 |
| Tow truck driver (up to 3 500 kg) | BT | 3 |
| Driver (light vehicle) | BY | 3 |
| General worker | BG | 2 |
| Cleaner | BE | 1 |
| Apprentice panel beater | YA | Apprentice rates |
| Apprentice spray painter | YK | Apprentice rates |
Also in the checker: motor mechanic, auto electrician, diesel mechanic, automotive engine fitter, automotive machinist, fitter and turner, vehicle body builder, motorcycle and scooter mechanic, suspension fitter, tow bar fitter (with wiring), gearbox repairer, auto electrician's assistant, repair shop assistant, air conditioner fitter, radio and alarm fitter, radiator repairer, tow bar fitter (no wiring), motorcycle mechanic's assistant, driver (heavy vehicle), exhaust fitter, sunroof fitter, wheel balancer, upholsterer (grade 4), driveshaft repairer, battery repairer, gearbox dismantler, upholsterer (grade 3), automotive tinter, driver (motorcycle).
The rules in brief
- Hours. Workshop staff work at most 45 ordinary hours a week and 9.25 hours a day, not counting meal breaks.
- Overtime. Paid at 1.5 times the ordinary rate between 06:00 and 23:00 and double between 23:00 and 06:00, and only after 45 hours in the week. No more than 10 hours of overtime a week.
- Sundays. Double pay for each hour, or 1.5 times for staff who normally work on Sundays.
- Leave. 3 weeks of annual leave per leave cycle.
- Holiday bonus. Grades 1 to 6 get two weeks' wages a year, up to the cap. Grades 7 and 8 and apprentices get weekly additional holiday pay instead, paid to MIBCO with your returns.
- Body shop assistants. You may only employ one if you employ at least one artisan, and you may not have more assistants than artisans plus one.
- Increases. On each 1 September, staff already above the minimum get the guaranteed increase for their grade (table below).
| Grade | From 22 December 2025 | From 1 September 2026 | From 1 September 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 8 | R4.32 an hourR194.40 a week | R4.54 an hourR204.30 a week | R4.76 an hourR214.20 a week |
| Grade 7 | R3.78 an hourR170.10 a week | R3.97 an hourR178.65 a week | R4.17 an hourR187.65 a week |
| Grade 6 | R3.03 an hourR136.35 a week | R3.19 an hourR143.55 a week | R3.34 an hourR150.30 a week |
| Grade 5 | R2.53 an hourR113.85 a week | R2.65 an hourR119.25 a week | R2.78 an hourR125.10 a week |
| Grade 4 | R2.27 an hourR102.15 a week | R2.38 an hourR107.10 a week | R2.50 an hourR112.50 a week |
| Grade 3 | R2.07 an hourR93.15 a week | R2.18 an hourR98.10 a week | R2.29 an hourR103.05 a week |
| Grade 2 | R1.92 an hourR86.40 a week | R2.01 an hourR90.45 a week | R2.11 an hourR94.95 a week |
| Grade 1 | R1.44 an hourR64.80 a week | R1.51 an hourR67.95 a week | R1.59 an hourR71.55 a week |
| Period | Holiday bonus cap (Grades 1 to 6) | Grade 7, per week | Grade 8, per week | Apprentices, per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 December 2025 to 31 August 2026 | R6 664.01 a year | R116.66 | R133.34 | R65.82 to R100.24by contract year |
| 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027 | R6 997.21 a year | R122.49 | R140.01 | R67.79 to R103.25by contract year |
| 1 September 2027 to 31 August 2028 | R7 347.07 a year | R128.61 | R147.01 | R69.82 to R106.35by contract year |
Where these figures come from
Checked against MIBCO's published agreement on 9 October 2026.
Every figure on this page comes from the MIBCO Main Collective Agreement, published in Government Gazette 53822 (Notice R.6927, 12 December 2025) and running from 22 December 2025 to 31 August 2028. We read it from MIBCO's published copy and last checked it on 9 October 2026. Page numbers: minimum wages 130, 132 and 134; apprentices 131, 133 and 135; guaranteed increases 163, 167 and 168; holiday bonus 97; additional holiday pay 99 to 103; hours 72; overtime 79; Sundays 81; leave 87; assistants 136; job codes 193 to 195 (Annexure E).
This page is a guide, not legal advice. Some employers have exemptions or their own agreements, and MIBCO can amend the agreement. Before you change anyone's pay, confirm the figures with MIBCO. Spotted a mistake? Tell us on support@paneldesk.com and we will fix it.
MIBCO FAQ
MIBCO wage questions
The questions panel shop owners ask most about MIBCO pay.
From 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027, a panel beater (automotive body repairer, code XA, Grade 8) must earn at least R95.25 an hour. That is R4 286.25 for a 45-hour week, or about R18 573.75 a month. Spray painters (XK) are also Grade 8, so the same minimum applies.
The minimums rose by about 5%. Staff who already earned more than the minimum had to get at least the guaranteed increase for their grade: R4.54 an hour (R204.30 a week) for Grade 8, R3.97 an hour for Grade 7 and R2.65 an hour for Grade 5.
On 1 September 2027. The Grade 8 minimum goes up to R100.01 an hour, and staff already above the minimum must get at least R4.76 more an hour (R214.20 a week). The rates are already fixed in the current agreement.
Staff in Grades 1 to 6 who qualify for paid annual leave get two weeks' wages a year, up to R6 997.21 for 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027. It drops by 1/52 for each week they did not work five full shifts. Grades 7 and 8 and apprentices get additional holiday pay instead: R140.01 a week for Grade 8 and R122.49 for Grade 7, paid to MIBCO with your monthly returns.
Body shop assistants (code QT) are Grade 5, so at least R55.69 an hour (R2 506.05 a week) for 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027. You may only employ one if you employ at least one artisan, and never more assistants than artisans plus one.
Multiply the weekly wage by 52 and divide by 12. For a panel beater on the minimum that is R4 286.25 × 52 ÷ 12, about R18 573.75 a month. MIBCO itself sets weekly and hourly rates.
Overtime is paid at 1.5 times the ordinary hourly rate between 06:00 and 23:00 and double between 23:00 and 06:00, once someone has worked 45 ordinary hours that week, with no more than 10 hours of overtime a week. For a panel beater on the minimum that is R142.88 and R190.50 an hour.
They apply to motor industry employers that fall under MIBCO, which includes body repairers (Sector 4). Some employers have exemptions, and office, stores, sales and clerical staff are on separate scales that this page does not cover. If you are not sure, ask MIBCO.
PanelDesk
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PanelDesk runs your panel shop from quote to invoice, and keeps track of your team's hours while it does.
- Staff clock in on a shared tablet
- Timesheets with overtime flagged
- Payroll export for your bookkeeper
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