02 Mar 2016

Public servants have been urged to behave and observe their dress code as that will help boost their confidence towards work and be productive.

These words were said by Mr and Miss Public Service 2015 when addressing public servants in Tsabong on Monday. 

Mr Thabo Seema, who is Mr Public Service and works under the Ministry of Youth Sport and Culture in Gaborone said the pageant which started in 2011 was meant for celebrating the Public Service Day and reward hard workers with crowns and trophies. 

He said  the pageant was intended to encourage behavioral change, specifically among public service workers by empowering them with skills that would help  them recognise their capabilities and be worthy and dedicated civil servants.

Mr Seema explained that this year there will be a Public Service week not day, unlike last year, hence workers should work very hard and prepare themselves for the big week. 

He said individuals who are interested should  be competitive in their corresponding departments and register with their ministry, hence come up with good realistic ideas/schemes that will change their workplace for the better.

He further clarified that those nominated individual will be trained and monitored at the boot camp, where they will be taught how to behave, how to dress properly, proper seating positions, work ethics like corruption and how to handle themselves in the workplace.

 He added that they were lobbying for public workers to be supplied with uniforms according to their work areas, and said that they will be awarded at the end of the pageant, such as scholarship. 

But mostly they will gain good behavioral skills and to be competitive.

Ms Lorato Force who is Miss Public Service and works for the ministry of education at Thamaga said wellness is an important aspect in the workplace, as it is linked to greater productivity, less absenteeism and a reduction of long-term ill health.

Miss Public Service also said that good manners and behavioral change must start with individuals by changing their attitude, and the way they dress so as to build their dignity.

She said that the beauty pageant is not all about being beautiful but based on the good behavior, work experience and knowledge.

Most public Service workers who attended the meeting welcomed the idea of introducing uniform to public workers for safety and health matters. Ends