Smiles to greet visitors to BMA offices

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration plans to spend Bt10 million a year to ensure that capital residents are greeted with smiles at all of its 50 district offices.

The BMA will use the money to contract out the hiring of 103 greeters within two months to staff each office with two employees to welcome people at the gates of the offices, said Panich Vikitsreth, deputy governor.

Their duties will include informing people where to find the services they are looking for.

“Some people are confused about where to turn to when they walk into district offices. The greeters will help them, so people can save their time,” he said. Each office receives at least 300 people a day – which equates to about 3 million people seeking services at BMA offices annually.

Currently, each office asks other departments’ officers to assist people, but they may not be service-minded. Each will be decked out in a uniform consisting of a jacket, with women wearing scarves, and men neckties with the BMA logo.

The BMA will hire a private company to supply the greeters, Panich said. The company will provide the uniforms and teach them basic information about the BMA. Hiring will be completed within two months.

Panich said the Bt10 million annual greeter budget is reasonable for 103 people.

Outsourcing the employees will allow the BMA to remove personnel it deems unpleasant at anytime.

Hiring greeters is part of BMA’s effort to improve the quality of its district offices, Panich said. Parking lots, toilets and the method for queuing up also will be improved soon. Moreover automated teller machines, polite security guards and a faster service for elderly and disabled people will be added.

“We will provide service that is as good as what people get from a private company,” he said.

--The Nation 2005-05-26

that's really great but, i hope it'll work.

Outsourcing the employees will allow the BMA to remove personnel it deems unpleasant at anytime

Meaning then, that employees of the BMA it deems unpleasant can keep their jobs.