DTI outlaws tea breaks and brings on trained consultants to serve business community

IF SOUTH Africa is to align itself with international business practices, the lead must be given by the public service Ð and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is doing just that!
"Tea time and telephones have been the bugbear of the general public when dealing with the public service, so we have had to eradicate the traditional practices," says DTI director general Alistair Ruiters.
"In the past, 10am and 3pm were not the times to phone our offices. That was when everyone downed tools and collected in the canteen for tea. The answer Ð have tea available at all times. You can drink it at your desk without having to ignore public demands.
"Of course, the telephones rang without being answered at those times, as well. So we have now brought on board 30 trained consultants, each of whom can answer most questions and do so within 30 seconds of answering the call Ð and calls are answered within 30 seconds as well!"
Ruiters says that the announcement of this new service was advertised in the Sunday press recently. The next day Ð Monday Ð 710 calls in addition to the normal registered flow were received, and all handled immediately. This number is increasing daily, he says, with DTI now meeting the business community in a far more positive manner.