Public Service Week 1997 - Conference for Senior Public Officers

The Public Service Week 1997 activities continued today with a third session of the conference "An Output Orientation for a Better Public Service", dedicated to Technical, Supervisory and Industrial Fields.

The session was addressed by Mr. Gaetan Tanti of Union Haddiema Maghqudin, Mr. Chris Falzon of Management Efficiency Unit, Mr. James Pearsall of General Workers Union, and Mr. Vincent Cassar, Director General, Works Division.

Mr. Gaetan Tanti outlined the importance of flexibility, motivation and incentives as basic ingredients for output orientation. He stated that a framework was already available through the 1994 Reform Agreements and felt that a concerted effort was required to maximise related benefits of the Agreements.

The valid contribution of a group of Industrial workers towards the development and management of Local Councils Contracts was highlighted by Mr. Chris Falzon. Training, trust and incentives were the factors which contributed to this achievement. Method study and work measurement, Mr. Falzon said, are fundamental techniques to develop and sustain an output model of management in these fields.

Mr. James Pearsall stated that the lack of change management expertise and outdated management systems were core issues that need to be tackled. It was time to introduce the concept of quality leadership that promotes teamwork, participative management and quality mentorship to employees. Fundamental to this approach was continuous training and investment in people.

Mr. Vincent Cassar stressed the importance of an effective Public Service for a better Private Sector. He identified the shortfall of employees in professional, managerial and supervisory grades, and the lack of re-training for industrial staff as major problems. Mr.Cassar stated that the reform of the Public Service should not be linked to downsizing but concerned with providing a quality service to the citizens by re-engineering systems to meet expectations.

The conference will come to its conclusion tomorrow with a plenary session entitled "A Professional Public Service for a Better Served Public" and a concluding address by the Prime Minister, Dr. Alfred Sant.