Masisi raises hopes for a happier public service
Monkagedi Gaothobogwe | Friday December 14, 2018 13:02
Masisi acknowledged to the BOPEU congress gathering where he was the guest speaker that a well-remunerated workforce is naturally motivated to produce good results and speak well about the employer.
Quoting the recent findings by the Botswana National Productivity Centre (BNPC), Masisi said competent, motivated and engaged employees tend to be happier, more satisfied, behave in ways that support organisational values and strategies and have a stronger sense of personal well being. The President further said the BNPC findings indicate that employees tend to go the extra mile to efficiently deliver service, speak well about their organisations an have lower turnover rates.
“This reinforces the employer’s brand, improves the positive public image of the organisation, customer satisfaction and shareholder value,” Masisi said.
The President observed from the BNPC report that conversely a demotivated workforce have spiral effect in that it breeds an unhappy personnel, dissatisfied customers and poor service delivery.
Masisi then raised hopes for a better working environment and a more incentivised public service environment when he told the BOPEU congress he had instructed senior government officials to ensure that.
Conducive work environment and healthy working relationships are created and nurtured in government machinery, as the congregants urged him to ensure such positive transformation is implemented speedily.
Masisi also reassured the nation that his government remains committed to the resuscitation of the bargaining council, which collapsed during former president Ian Khama’s tumultuous relations with the trade unions.
Masisi said government fully recognises that it is through the Public Sector Bargaining Council (PSBC) that trade unions can meaningfully engage it as an employer on matters relating to conditions of service.
He also said his government remained unwavering in its intent to restore trade unions’ organisational rights.
Masisi also said the International Labour Organisation (ILO) at its June 2018 sitting made recommendations to the Government of Botswana pertaining to the amendments of the national legislation for purposes of alignment with ILO statutes.
Masisi added that as recently as last week a tripartite workshop attended by trade unions, employer’s organisations and government was convened in Maun by government in collaboration with ILO to review and align Botswana’s labour laws such as the free unions and employer’s organisations Act, the public service Act, the Trade Dispute Act and the Employment Act with ILO conventions.
On his government’s job creation mission, Masisi announced they are in the process of developing a National Transformation Strategy, which will be able to facilitate economic growth and diversification that will bring about value and societal benefits including to the public service.