It’s funny how things work in the public service.

Your leader “Too much initiative”, (TMID, 23 October) exposed the story of a worker who was reprimanded for trying to do his job, quickly and efficiently, by his superiors, who are used to the slow system of government bureaucracy and were appalled that someone coming from the private sector would try to work faster.

It seems to be that this is the story of any public sector around the world. But at the end of the day what concerns us is Malta, and the government should investigate what is going on and try to come up with solutions.

Why should the public sector stall the government machinery, simply because there are people who are sure that they have a job for life and that, no matter what they do, they will never be dismissed?

Public sector employees should be on the alert just like private sector employees. In the private sector, wages are linked to productivity and if targets are not met, people are dismissed.

In the public sector, no matter how inefficient and lazy one is, he will still get his wage at the end of the month. This is certainly no incentive, except for those who are conscientious enough to give a day’s work. Unfortunately, there seems to be too few of them.

Robert Cassar

Birkirkara