INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT (Reasons for resignations)

Mr Ho See Beng asked the Minister for Finance what is the rate of resignations from the Income Tax Department and whether the rate is high when compared with the rate in other departments; and if he will give the reasons for the resignations.

Mr Ramaswamy (for the Minister for Finance): Resignations in the middle seniority grades have occurred and the reasons are generally that of better remuneration offered in non-Government employment outside or for less onerous and exacting work. Over the last three years, the resignations have been as follows: 1966 Division I - 2 Assessment Officers for better remuneration outside; One Probationary Legal Officer, who is a non-citizen, left after serving less than six months' service; 1965 Nil. 1964 Nil.

In the lower seniority grade, resignations have been due to failure to pass examinations required for confirmation of their appointment and for better pay.

1966 Division II - Assistant Examiners. Out of the eight who resigned, six left to better their prospects in non-Government employment; one for further studies and one left to join her husband overseas.

Division III - Clerical Officers. Seven resigned. Of these, two left for better pay, one was selected to undergo a training Officer's Course in the Singapore Armed Forces, three left to undertake further studies, and one obtained a bursary for study at the Teachers' Training College.

Division IV Typists, Process and Notice Servers, Office Boys - one each. The typist left for alternative employment with better pay. The Process and Notice Server left for reasons unknown. The Office Boy left for alternative employment at higher pay.

1965 Division II - Assistant Examiners. Six resigned. Three left for alternative employment with better pay, and three left to undertake further studies.

Division III - Clerical Officers. Eleven resigned. Four of these left for alternative employment with better pay; four left for further studies, one left to get married, and two left because they failed to pass the examinations.

1964 Division II Assistant Examiners. Four resigned. Two left for alternative employment with better pay; one was awarded an overseas scholarship to undertake professional studies overseas and he has since returned to the department, and one left on account of failing to pass the departmental examination.

Executive Officers. One resigned for alternative employment with better pay.

1964 Division III Assistant Examiners-in-training. Three resigned to undertake further studies, one left as he failed to pass the examinations.

Clerical Officers. One left for alternative employment as he failed to pass his examination.

Division IV - Typists. One resigned to accompany her husband on transfer to Kuala Lumpur.

Mr Ho See Beng (Bras Basah): A supplementary question, Sir. Apart from the reason given of better emoluments from outside, is it a fact that the Income Tax Department is the only department in the Government that has the greatest rate of resignations?

Mr Speaker: Can the Parliamentary Secretary answer that without notice?

Mr Ramaswamy: I do not think so.

Mr Tang See Chim (Choa Chu Kang): A supplementary question, Sir. What is the Government going to do about this brain-drain from Government departments?

The Minister for Finance (Mr Lim Kim San): Mr Speaker, Sir, it is always impossible to prevent people from leaving Government departments. Whether it is a brain-drain or not is open to contention. On our side, we are quite happy that some of them left us. The Government can do without them and we will get better ones later on.

Mr Ho See Beng: I would like to ask the Minister whether there is any possibility that the Head of Department, in dealing with the junior officers, has failed in his human relationship and that this has brought about this high rate of resignations in the Income Tax Department?

Mr Lim Kim San: I do not know what rate of resignations the hon. Member for Bras Basah will consider to be a high rate. From the figures given, I think it is quite a normal rate. In fact, most of them resigned because of higher pay or to further their studies, and I think they should thank the Commissioner of Inland Revenue, for they are able to get better emoluments outside because of the training that he had given them while they were in service.

Mr Ho See Beng: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not saying that the Income Tax Department has got a high rate of resignations. I am asking, is it a fact that this department, compared to other departments, has got a high rate of resignations? The Minister for Finance, as his post in the Government is more or less like that of an employer, should know whether other departments have the same rate of resignations?

Mr Lim Kim San: If the Member would like a comparative table of resignations from other departments, I will supply it later on. But I am quite satisfied with the personal relationship that is existing between the head of that department and the staff, The Income Tax Department is a little bit peculiar in that it requires a greater amount of output and productivity from the staff. It is quite a rigorous department in that we are dealing with entrepreneurs who are very astute in finding ways and means of wriggling out of their income tax responsibility. Therefore, the people who work there require greater acumen, greater drive and greater interest in their work.