Rewards for companies with high productivity

Hiran H.Senewiratne

The improving of productivity in all public and private sector entities will move the country’s economy forward, which needs to be promoted at grass root level , Director- National Productivity Secretariat Upali Marasinghe said.

“In 1966 Sri Lanka became a member of the Asian Productivity Organization, which paved the way to promote the national productivity concept in all sectors and as a result of it, the National Productivity Organization was established”, he said. “With these developments, in the aftermath of the “Convention of Productivity Year 1993” was named as the “Year of Productivity” and the “Decade of National Productivity” was later declared for 1997-2006 .

This paved the way to promote this concept throughout the island, Marasinghe said.

He said that from 1993 they started a competition on productivity to recognize and reward organizations that achieved productivity excellence covering the production and service sectors, State institutions and schools, which had contributed immensely to the national economy. This awards ceremony is scheduled to be held on October 6, he said.

“In 2002 this competition was conducted by the National Productivity Secretariat under the Ministry of Labour Relations.

The proposed sectors that are applying for this awards ceremony are the public sector entities including Government Ministries, Provincial Council Ministries, Government Departments and Local Government Institutions, potential private sector entities such as manufacturing and service sectors, small, medium and large scale enterprises and schools will be categorized as schools upto grade five, O/L schools, A/L schools and private and international schools, he said.

“The objective of this awards ceremony is to reward those who had contributed to the national economy while improving productivity. The companies that are running with the lowest cost and the highest productivity are eligible to take part in this competition, he said.

Marasinghe said they consider various matters where organizations need to conform to that include cost reduction, proper energy management and waste management, management process, use of new technology, innovation, customer satisfaction and leadership style of the organization.

“The awards will be awarded when the companies conform to those categories, which are based on international standards, he said.

“This competition will be judged by an eminent panel of judges who will visit the company as part of the judging process.

The best company will be awarded a Gold medal and there are several awards in line,” he said.