KUCHING: The Public Works Department (JKR) is implementing several efforts to increase the competency and integrity of its staff.

They include the Competency Inventory Management System, which aims to assess, record and manage the competency level of staff at all levels.

Under the programme, the competency gap will be assessed to determine the training required to improve skill levels, said JKR state director Zuraimi Sabki.

“The competency programme is important to determine the career development and continuity plan for the department because in four to five years to come, more higher level officers will retire.

“The continuity plan is important to ensure the jobs and responsibilities are handed over to those who are worthy and competent,” he said during JKR’s first monthly assembly yesterday.

He said the continuity plan is based on training and courses to increase efficiency and knowledge to prepare staff for higher level posts and responsibilities.

For a start, 70 Grade J17 public technicians will attend a course under the Career Strengthening Programme from Sept 1 at the Centre for Modern Management (CMM).

“To show our seriousness with the learning process, we will not compromise or hesitate to take disciplinary action against those who are not serious in attending the courses and trainings,” stressed Zuraimi.

There is also a Mentor-Mentee programme to transfer skills and knowledge from seniors to junior staff to ensure continuity of knowledge, based on their respective fields.

Zuraimi urged more staff to take up the programme as it will be taken into consideration during the assessment for the continuity plan.

JKR staff are also encouraged to join the Akrab Programme, which focuses on psychology and counselling to help those with personal problems.

“The reason why Akrab was formed is to reduce work stress and to prevent it from affecting the staff’s performance,” he explained, adding that all sessions are confidential.

He also said JKR began implementing integrity programmes at all divisional offices last year and this would include branches at headquarters.

“We need to ensure the products and services implemented by the department are at the same level with developed nations, which is in line with the state government’s vision for a world-class civil service based on six values: professionalism, kind and caring, team spirit, creative and innovative, sense of urgency and ownership and result oriented.