Wage watchers: how much does a bicycle mechanic earn?

Bicycle mechanic Emad Tyar Abush, 34, from Leuven talks about what he earns and how he spends it

What do you do for a living?

I repair bicycles at Fietspunt in Leuven. We’re based at the station near the town hall. So we get many students, but also tourists, commuters and locals. We rent and sell bikes, perform minor repairs on the bikes and pump up tyres for free. Everyone is welcome, even with a bike purchased elsewhere. Those distinctive yellow- green bicycles in Leuven, they’re from us.

Do you enjoy your work?

When I started my training, the first thing I had to do was to take a bike apart and put it back together. I’ve been working here for four years and I enjoy it very much. I'm always busy and like to help customers. Manual work is my thing. Even my seven-year-old daughter Zeila likes working with bikes! We also get good training and guidance. In total, there are 16 of us (including 4 bicycle mechanics) and two advisors. I live nearby, so I’m at work in no time, which is great.

Would you look elsewhere if the money was better?

No, I like it here. I used to work in a kebab parlour. But that was only half-time, whereas I wanted a full-time job, and so I ended up here. First it was via the Article 60 employment scheme and now I have a fixed-term contract. The idea is that, afterwards, I rejoin the regular labour market. I now know everything about bicycles, so I would like to work in a bike shop.

What do you think of your salary?

I take home €1,515 on average, plus health insurance. It’s only an average because it changes from one month to the next. I think it's good. , when I worked here under Article 60 I earned less. In the kebab shop it was even less. I’ve now been in Belgium for five years, and many Iraqis and Turks have no work. They work well under Article 60, and then it stops for them. I am so glad I ended up here.

How many hours a week do you work?

We’re open from 7am until 7pm. Personally I work 38 hours a week, a different shift each week. There are two shifts: from 7 until 3.30pm and from 10.30 until 7pm. During the holiday season I have to work one Saturday every month, because of the amount of tourists.

What does the biggest chunk of your salary go towards?

The rent on our flat and energy bills. We’ve tried to save; it’s not happening.

What do you dream of?

Going to Iraq on holiday with my wife and our daughter. My sister and my mother are still there. They live in north Iraq, which is safe, so I’m not too worried about them. We’re on contact every day via the internet anyway.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

I’d buy a house and a car. And I’d make sure that my daughter has a comfortable life.

(mr)