Category: Employment

When The Community Speaks … Cracking the Botswana Productivity Code. Short Notes. Part II

by sheilasingapore

A 2017 report from the World Economic Forum ranked Botswana as having the world’s poorest work ethic, impacting its economic competitiveness and foreign investment. The low productivity is attributed to cultural factors, with a historical background of pastoralism resulting in a lack of urgency and innovation. Addressing these issues requires systemic reform focused on productivity and merit-based incentives.

When Nature Speaks … Wildlife. Be calm. Love an elephant. What everybody should know about these gentle giants.

by sheilasingapore

That is … until you see them return to the lands and vegetation we have encroached into, when we settled in their habitat. When elephants leave their habitats for their watering holes, for however long, it does not mean they have resettled. And so, it becomes hard for us to imagine the way a child intuitively understands … Continue reading Be calm. Love an elephant. What everybody should know about these gentle giants.

When The Community Speaks … Cracking the Botswana Productivity Code. Short Notes. Part I

by sheilasingapore

    BATSWANA HAVE THE WORST WORK ETHIC IN THE WORLD – REPORT Sunday Standard Reporter 30 Oct 2017 In its 2015 survey of African workers, South Africa’s Rand Merchant Bank found Batswana to be the laziest on the continent.  The problem is actually more acute than that. In the 2017-2018 Global Competitiveness Report, Botswana … Continue reading When The Community Speaks … Cracking the Botswana Productivity Code. Short Notes. Part I

Newspaper Column #3: Is unemployment, the real problem? The Story of Supply of Labour – Part III

by sheilasingapore

As it appeared in the Sunday Standard, Botswana on  Sunday Nov 4, 2012 edition. Labour is a cost It can assist to generate revenue but it is firstly, a cost.  When we add them up, it can rack up into billions of dollars.  Easily. Hence a situation of ‘that we have labour’, will not be enough reason why … Continue reading Newspaper Column #3: Is unemployment, the real problem? The Story of Supply of Labour – Part III

Newspaper Column #1: Is unmployment the real problem – Part I

by sheilasingapore

As it appeared in the Sunday Standard, Botswana on  Sunday Oct 21, 2012 edition (maiden print). This is the 1st of a three part series of this article.  Each part will build on the earlier article to an eventual conclusion.  We invite you to participate in the column as well as do your ‘own homework’ – searching and … Continue reading Newspaper Column #1: Is unmployment the real problem – Part I

Regional Article 23: Unemployment, labour disputes, economic diversification and fertility

by sheilasingapore

  Most countries think supply of labour should drive demand.  We forget then (or choose not to admit to ourselves) that it is demand that drives supply in any situation.  Not the other way around.  It is just not realistic to believe that because we have so many ‘young ones’ here, that there should be jobs … Continue reading Regional Article 23: Unemployment, labour disputes, economic diversification and fertility

Regional Article 20: Why do disputes by labor (with unions) and employers go up?

by sheilasingapore

Despite our efforts to set up judiciary courts to preside over cases involving employers and employees embroiled in disputes with each other as well as educate ‘people’ on ways to avoid disputes with each other, why do relations between employers and employees continue to sour and such disputes tend to soar year after year?  Surely, … Continue reading Regional Article 20: Why do disputes by labor (with unions) and employers go up?

Regional Article 17: Is unemployment real?

by sheilasingapore

UNEMPLOYMENT = SUPPLY OF LABOUR > DEMAND FOR LABOUR In a country, where levels of unemployment stay persistent over time, then it is a sign that the rates of growth of the supply of labour (population numbers -” child creation”) each year is growing at rates faster than the rate of growth of the demand for … Continue reading Regional Article 17: Is unemployment real?

National Article 16: So, who is the (real) criminal?

by sheilasingapore

Stressed so I took my boss hostage (thesun.co.uk) I found this part interesting: Thompson then tied his victim to a chair and subjected him to a 20-minute ordeal that left Mr Grady suffering depression and post-traumatic stress. He remains off work five months later. The court heard the worker (Thomson) told his boss: “This is the … Continue reading National Article 16: So, who is the (real) criminal?

National Article 15: Is one choosing to work because one needs to eat?

by sheilasingapore

Or does one choose to work because one wants to carve a career (to advance the public or private good) for oneself and for others?

National Article 12: Maybe the name ‘football’ is misleading

by sheilasingapore

Because one foot really cannot make a difference to the game till the team is willing to work as a team but more importantly works to defend for its nation.  Yet we all relish that one foot that kicks “the dream goal” to reality!  It is what glues us all to the set and the … Continue reading National Article 12: Maybe the name ‘football’ is misleading

National Article 11: A Case of Productivity! Really?

by sheilasingapore

It is classic! Perhaps we are working longer number of hours but we are also not the most productive. How is that possible? Data extracted on 25 Feb 2012 16:34 UTC (GMT) from OECD.Stat Data from 1979: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/34/42/35205504.pdf Frequency Annual Time 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Country Australia 1 780 1 739 … Continue reading National Article 11: A Case of Productivity! Really?

National Article 10: Do we have “systems” to measure performance because we have lost beliefs in ourselves and others and we cannot talk about the loss?

by sheilasingapore

Without  a belief in oneself and others can we really expect to see performance by oneself, the organization and the country (what about the region, the world) improve over time? Should, let us say for the sake of argument, that we do not believe in ourselves and others, is there a price that we would … Continue reading National Article 10: Do we have “systems” to measure performance because we have lost beliefs in ourselves and others and we cannot talk about the loss?

National Article 8: Do we demand pay increments based on what we need to spend on or ….

by sheilasingapore

… what we did to give in generating the revenue or increasing it and more importantly sustaining the increase (so we know we got it right!) so that it would allow the country (or organizations) to pay us increments? What contributes to the  revenue rising? More sales (not increased prices – that is not real) and … Continue reading National Article 8: Do we demand pay increments based on what we need to spend on or ….

National Article 7: Is Job Descriptions a cover-up for hiding otherwise our fears or our aspirations at the workplace?

by sheilasingapore

And bound by a belief that our views of the world and our aspirations cannot be ‘brought out into the world for others to see’? Job descriptions, yes they describe the job we do or that someone should do.  But it is that ubiquitous clause at the end that always says, ‘To carry and obey all lawful orders … Continue reading National Article 7: Is Job Descriptions a cover-up for hiding otherwise our fears or our aspirations at the workplace?

National Article 6: When things go wrong, should we “go after” the supply or the demand?

by sheilasingapore

Remember, without demand there will be no supply.  At the marketplace it is the demand (overt or otherwise) that drives supply! Take anything: Peddling of fake sex drugs Peddling of counterfeit cigarettes Peddling by  prostitutes Addiction to gambling Addiction to alcohol consumption Addiction to smoking Rise of HIV/AIDs epidemic Rise of inflation Price wars Availability … Continue reading National Article 6: When things go wrong, should we “go after” the supply or the demand?