Mass Media Ministry bags prestigious award

By Dhaneshi Yatawara

"All employers must ensure that employees are happy and contented if they were to get maximum performance from them, Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said.

He was speaking after the Ministry of Mass Media and Information won the first place in the Ministry level category at the National Productivity and Quality Award for the year 2006 in Colombo on October 23.

"We at the Ministry first conducted a survey to find the attitude of the employees. Many were not happy about their working conditions and work. So, we started taking measures to uplift the quality levels," the Minister added. "It was a great team effort. It became a success because of the dedication of all the employees," Ministry Secretary, A. Dissanayake said.

As an initial step all the ministry employees were taken on an observation tour of 'Slimline', the apparel factory at Pannala in the Kurunegala district, for an on-the-spot study of an institution with over 4,000 employees performing with a high level of job satisfaction.

Dissanayake inspired by his overseas experience coupled with his service at the Education Ministry as an Assistant Secretary, was in the forefront giving them a solid leadership.

"Initially this was started not with an aim of winning an award. But, with a sense of dedication we worked towards doing a satisfying job in a conducive environment, ultimately winning the award," the minister said.

The structural condition of the building, its maintenance, attitude of employees, level of participation in the entire process were all taken into consideration while displaying the plus points to the independent panel of judges.

"We held several workshops to change the attitude of the workers and make them aware of how to achieve their goals. We invited many renowned lecturers, thinkers to give an added inspiration to our staff", Dissanayake said.

The Ministry staff was divided according to divisions and had eight working circles, each with a president, a secretary and a treasurer. Working circles met once a month and the leaders of the circles held monthly discussions with the Secretary to the Ministry.

"The Minister and the Secretary gave us perfect guidance. They spent their time and energy funds for the process and it was a great inspiration to all of us," said Malini Ekanayake, a working circle leader who also coordinates the productivity development process as part of her duties.

She added that as employees they were experiencing a feeling of satisfaction and this process really changed their attitudes towards the better.

"Now the number of complaints has decreased," the Minister added.

The process has not ended with the award. It still continues.

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