03 Mar 2015

Japanese Ambassador to Botswana, Mr Masahiro Onishi says adherence to good work ethics is a fundamental principle which can lead to productivity and job satisfaction in the public service.

Giving an account on Japan’s experience on Government Personnel Management System to government Performance Improvement Coordinators (PICS) in a meeting held at Botswana Public Service College (BPSC) recently, Mr Onishi said work ethics should be followed to the latter as they help drive institutional set goals.

He said in Japan government institutional managers ensured that there was strict adherence to work ethics and encouraged team work, information sharing among workers and well as timely and frequent training of employees to increase job knowledge and execution.

In addition, Mr Onishi said unlike in the west where government employees usually leave for the private sector, which offers lucrative packages; this was not usually true with employees in Japan’s public service because their remunerations were pegged just too close to those offered by the private sector.

He said with flexible job description, employees were able to switch to units where they feel they were more comfortable with and able to deliver timeously and productively.

The ambassador said in instances where an employee wanted to change to another unit they were usually given such an opportunity and their progress closely monitored and if they surpass expectation they earn themselves a promotion.

Nevertheless, Ambassador Onishi said there was a clear progression and promotion policy which was given to all workers upon assumption of duty.
He explained that among other tools considered for promotion, workers are regularly given examination within a specified time of their service to unlock an opportunity for promotion.

Just like the civil service in Botswana, he said Japanese public service was apolitical and they try by all means to avoid incidents of nepotism by engaging in clean ethics which are not supposed to be compromised; least one wants to earn a demotion, suspension or dismissal as some acts are deemed criminal.

In 2013, at least 65 workers were dismissed in the public service in Japan while 65 were suspended. Another 156 were demoted while 86 were reprimanded, he said.

He noted that Japan civil service attracts a lot of incentives which are critical to the welfare of an employee.

Meanwhile, the coordinator of Public Sector Reforms Coordinating Office Ms Goaba Mosienyane said it was a welcome development to interact and learn from Ambassador Onishi, who had been in the public service sphere for almost 40 years and led many institutions of high repute.

She said Botswana just like the international world needs to be at par with other countries in terms of productivity and work ethics.

Ms Mosienyane said Human Management Reforms office needs advice and quality guidance from seasoned civil servants such as Mr Onishi, adding that the country needs to also undergo a cultural revolution of doing business. 
In his welcome remarks, BPSC executive director Mr Ikwatlhaeng

Bagopi said the way Japanese conduct business whether in the public service or private sector was unbelievably impressive as it is of international repute and standard.

Mr Bagopi, who was recently a permanent secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, said it was therefore important for the country to learn from japan so as to systematically and gradually change the country’s work ethics.  ENDS