SINGAPORE BROADCASTING CORPORATION (Resignations of senior personnel)

Mr Rohan bin Kamis asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Culture (a) what was the reason for the recent spate of resignations of senior personnel from the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation; (b) whether the work efficiency of the SBC will be affected; and (c) what steps are being taken to check the situation.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Culture (Mr S. Dhanabalan): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, since 1st February 1980 to the end of July this year, 19 middle rank officers from the Programmes Division and 17 officers from the News and Current Affairs Division resigned. Most of them left for higher pay in the private sector. Some left to join the existing and proposed English language newspapers; others joined SBC for a few months and left, being unable to adapt to the irregular hours and pressures of broadcasting life; and a small number left for personal and domestic reasons.

As the recent resignations represent only 2% of the total establishment. they have not adversely affected work efficiency. With the conversion of RTS into SBC, the organization has been strengthened. Prior to the formation of SBC, there were 1,335 members of staff. The present staff strength is 1,764.

When SBC was established, priority was given to the creation of more and better promotional avenues for various categories of staff. Other improvements included the creation of new posts, regrading of existing ones, and revision and upgrading of salary structures of the creative staff. Promotional avenues have also been improved in 24 schemes of service and more frequent promotion exercises have been held. Since 1st February 1980, 36 promotion exercises have been held and 205 officers have been promoted.

SBC will continue to improve its conditions of service and schemes of service. Officers will be given on-the-job training and overseas training and attachments where necessary. Existing procedures and practices will be periodically reviewed to enable staff to do their work better and get greater job satisfaction.

SBC must continue to take every step to ensure that its staff find it attractive and satisfying to work in SBC. But we must accept the fact that it will not be possible to always match the terms offered by the private sector. Private firms, especially the small employers, can offer terms to a particular employee of SBC which SBC cannot match without upsetting relativities and staff morale.