Complex work procedures, inefficiency and lack of enthusiasm among staff are the major complaints against government departments and utilities providers in Guangdong Province, according to a survey among local businesses.

More than 30 per cent of firms said they were unsatisfied with the general level of service of government departments, while just over 20 per cent expressed similar frustrations with utilities providers.

The survey, conducted by Guangdong Provincial Condition Survey and Research Centre, was the first of its kind in the city, quizzing 154 large firms including State-owned, private and foreign-invested ones.

It gauged opinion on services in general, as well as the attitude and competency of 14 government departments and 13 utilities providers.

"The survey aims to get a clear picture of their performance so as to improve the business environment and protect the legitimate rights of the corporate sector," Feng Shengping, a deputy director of the research centre, said yesterday.

Other complaints included random charges, unfairness in law enforcement, inadequate professional competency of some staff and inadequate facilities.

Almost 50 per cent of the firms polled rated the competency of utilities providers as high or relatively high, but the ratio was lower for government departments.

Taxation and industrial and commercial administration departments received the highest scores among government departments, while power grids, television stations and water suppliers were rated the best among utilities providers.

The respondents in the survey also provided their suggestions for improvements.

They called for simplified work flow, ethics training of staff, stricter law enforcement, more guideline information for public access, and greater application of information technology.

Some also suggested that the supervision of civil servants be increased and incentive mechanisms improved.