Labour Minister aims to set his Ministry on new, improved course

THE Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Alpheus !Naruseb, yesterday expressed dissatisfaction with his ministry’s performance in 2005, and vowed that 2006 would be the turning point in its state of affairs.

Addressing staff at the ministry’s Windhoek headquarters, !Naruseb said that he had taken note of a number of complaints against his ministry during the last year. “Although it is customary for most of us in the public service to take leave during the festive season,” !Naruseb said, “I decided not to for the simple reason that I am not satisfied with the state of affairs in the ministry.”He said he used the time to review the ministry’s performance, and to reflect upon how he and his team could best contribute to its improvement.His discussions with his ministerial team, he said, would be presented at a policy management meeting next month, and would eventually lead to the formulation of work plans for every division in the ministry, including that of the minister.”I ask each of you individually and in your directorates and divisions to conduct your own evaluation and self-evaluation,” he told staff present.”Ask yourself whether you and we as a ministry are living up to the expectations of the Government and of your employers – the Namibian people.”If you do so, I’m sure that you will agree that we must change the way we work,” he said.!Naruseb aired his dissatisfaction with all sections within the ministry, from the office of the permanent secretary down to the cleaners.Staff members leaving work for private activities, those found “excessively absent”, playing computer games or conducting private work in ministry offices, and those misusing Government property, were warned that these were forms of dishonesty that would be “viewed in a very serious light”.The minister said he expected disciplinary action to be taken against those who made themselves guilty of these activities.”We receive frequent complaints about individual staff members using official vehicles for grocery shopping, lunchtime errands and transporting family and friends.We have learned also of staff members washing private cars while on duty, utilising the ministry’s equipment and water,” !Naruseb said.The minister said he expected the permanent secretary and senior managers to set examples of hard work, dedication and honesty, adding that their conduct would set the tone for the entire staff and influence the culture of the ministry.”I want us to be aware that it is not a right to be employed within the public service but a privilege,” he continued.”At the end of the day this is public money that we have been entrusted with, to spend for the good of this country’s citizens.””Although it is customary for most of us in the public service to take leave during the festive season,” !Naruseb said, “I decided not to for the simple reason that I am not satisfied with the state of affairs in the ministry.”He said he used the time to review the ministry’s performance, and to reflect upon how he and his team could best contribute to its improvement.His discussions with his ministerial team, he said, would be presented at a policy management meeting next month, and would eventually lead to the formulation of work plans for every division in the ministry, including that of the minister. “I ask each of you individually and in your directorates and divisions to conduct your own evaluation and self-evaluation,” he told staff present.”Ask yourself whether you and we as a ministry are living up to the expectations of the Government and of your employers – the Namibian people.”If you do so, I’m sure that you will agree that we must change the way we work,” he said.!Naruseb aired his dissatisfaction with all sections within the ministry, from the office of the permanent secretary down to the cleaners.Staff members leaving work for private activities, those found “excessively absent”, playing computer games or conducting private work in ministry offices, and those misusing Government property, were warned that these were forms of dishonesty that would be “viewed in a very serious light”.The minister said he expected disciplinary action to be taken against those who made themselves guilty of these activities.”We receive frequent complaints about individual staff members using official vehicles for grocery shopping, lunchtime errands and transporting family and friends.We have learned also of staff members washing private cars while on duty, utilising the ministry’s equipment and water,” !Naruseb said.The minister said he expected the permanent secretary and senior managers to set examples of hard work, dedication and honesty, adding that their conduct would set the tone for the entire staff and influence the culture of the ministry.”I want us to be aware that it is not a right to be employed within the public service but a privilege,” he continued.”At the end of the day this is public money that we have been entrusted with, to spend for the good of this country’s citizens.”