29 Jul 2013

Government supports efforts that promote employees’ wellness as it recognises that healthy workforce deliver better performance at the workplace.

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Olebile Gaborone said during a wellness day in Molepolole organised by local government departments in Kweneng on Friday, that government recognised the workplace as a key avenue for health promotion and as such welcome wellness in the workplace.

“Wellness is seen as an extension of health and safety because government recognised that a healthy workforce was a safer workforce. It’s worth noting that nearly one third of our adult life is spent at work, hence our health is heavily influenced by the environment in which the individuals spend the majority of their time,” he said.

Mr Gaborone said the importance of sports and wellness initiatives could not be overemphasised because it had the potential to contribute not only to physical fitness and wellness, but also towards economic diversification.

The assistant minister said managers and supervisors should make it a culture in the ministry to know who is sick as this would be a sign of good internal customer care and living the ministry’s motto of ‘The People’s Ministry’.

For her part Kweneng tribal secretary Ms Chama Montshiwa commended the local government staff for their self-reliant efforts in fundraising about P9 000 for the event and not using government money for the wellness day. She encouraged the staff to make exercising a habit in their life if they are to lead a good healthy lifestyle and have productive lives at their homes and at the workplace. ENDS