10 Sep 2018

Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Mr Frans Van der Westhuizen says government should prioritise employee welfare issues in order to have a productive workforce.

The assistant minister said this at the ministry’s wellness event at Lobu Farm in Middlepits last week.

Briefing employees who converged at the farm from Kgalagadi region, Mr Van Der Westhuizen pointed out that it was  advisable for them to meet once so that employees could relax and interact with one another.

By so doing, he said that  they would be able to produce the desired results in their different professions timeously and effectively.

Mr Van Der Westhuizen urged them to strive to strike a balance in their lives and to look on the positive side of life if they wanted to be happy  on and off the job.

He pointed out that the fact that some people were working  far from their homes caused stress, hence the need to mingle under relaxed conditions as that would help them to revitalise their energies towards their daily duties. For his part, Mr Andrew Moipopi, who is the district agricultural coordinator, said the expectation was that workers would go back to their duty stations refreshed, pointing out that the event was meant to nourish their soul, body and mind for good delivery. Furthermore, he revealed that those who were working in outstations would have an opportunity to learn about the farm and share the information with their customers when they go back.

The day, which was full of activities such as football, netball and athletics, was graced by health personnel from local clinics to enlighten employees about different diseases especially non-communicable diseases. A nurse from Khuis, Ms Lebogang Sethibang said their services on the day included screening for ailments such as diabetes and obesity, adding that an unhealthy individual was prone to stress. ENDS