Chamber’s recommendation makes sense

The recommendation by the Saipan Chamber of Commerce to require a two-year work stint in the private sector for prospective government employees is a very sensible idea. A lot of trophies are earned by productive private sector employees because they are taught and trained to understand that productivity and efficiency contributes substantially to profit making of the company they represent.

These employees go through rigorous company provided training programs to sharpen their skills. It includes company paid tuition fees at the Northern Marianas College for the more advanced employees or those interested in moving into the management level. After a year or so, the employee learns the fruits of hark work and comes to the realization that success isn’t handed down a silver platter. It is attained the old fashion way: You must earn it!

The other positive aspect in the Chamber’s recommendation is the potential reduction in training expenses for the local government. This costly expenditure is transferred to the private sector, a savings that should enable it (public sector) to funnel into a reinvented program to combat illiteracy problems here. Or use it wisely elsewhere to assist vital departments such as education, health and public safety.

In recent years, private sector employees who have entered the public sector find it most difficult adjusting to the loose work attitude by spoiled government employees. They also discover with disappointment that some of their colleagues who make anywhere between $25,000 to $40,000 per year don’t even know how to punch a key on their computers. Yet they are given a job to which they have not the qualifications for what the responsibility entails. Some have bluffed their way through it all by turning into daily chefs for the boss. And we can find this practice quite prevalent in various government offices.

This view isn’t to criticize employees who fall into this category, but more of an observation of the lingering problems of illiteracy, the lack of merit of politically connected promotions that turn the civil service system on its head, much to the dismay of more qualified employees who hailed from the private sector. It bothers them of the obvious inefficiency and inadequacy of how work is viewed and carried out in the public sector. But bring in more of the Private Sector Squad and we will see marked improvements in efficiency and productivity in most government offices.

The Chamber’s recommendation, therefore, merits serious consideration. It should work favorably in reinventing unworkable and poor work attitudes that we’ve allowed to grow into ill-prepared employees. Think about it. It’s especially good for, believe or not, local employees.