KZN Public Works Midlands Region was on top of the ladder again. In its quest to boost workplace enhancement and productivity, Midlands Region in collaboration with GEMS officially launched the Work[place Fitness Programme on Wednesday 22 March 2017 at the Midlands Regional office, Ladysmith. The aim of the programme is to inculcate and instil morale on the part of employees towards living a healthy life while employed. Addressing the guests and employees on behalf of the Regional Director, was Ms Gugu Mthethwa, the Regional Deputy Director: Supply Chain Management (SCM) also assumed her position as Acting Regional Director who delivered the welcome and introductory briefing on the purpose of the programme launch. Among other delegates who joined the launch were Mr Bathandwa Dlamini, a consultant from GEMS as well two training instructors Khanya Mnguni and Cameron Naidoo from Healthy Living Consultant, a company which is based in Cape Town but having offices located around the country. It must be indicated that the launch was also graced by the presence and participation of Messrs Mqadi and Letompa, both District Managers for Umzinyathi and UThukela districts respectively with Ms Goba from the Southern Regional Office.
The importance of the workplace fitness programme also include amongst others:
- The promotion of physical wellness of individual employees; pyscho-social wellness; organisational wellness and also striking a workplace-life balance of employees.
- Addressing at most, personal and workplace related matters, strained in personal / workplace relations; financial education; domestic violence; divorce/ separation and legal matters; mental illness and depression; physical fitness of employees on and off duty, with particular emphasis on fitness while at work;
- Getting public service employees moving forward on a journey to good health;
- Continue to encouraging employees towards supporting other programmes/ projects initiated and implemented by GEMS in collaboration with Public Works at the benefit of all employees in the Public Service;
- Dealing with occupational health education and awareness amongst all employees;
- Continue to foster the employee Code of Ethics, namely confidentiality, accessibility, neutrality, ethical behaviour, non-punitive; permanency and non-discriminatory;
- A strategic focus of HIV, AIDS, STI & TB management; Health and Productive Management.
The message (in absentia) from Mr Gcina Hadebe, the Regional Director was that management is in full support towards the implementation of the programme and encourages employees to activate the programme on Wednesdays so as to register positive progress.
