HDB ADVERTISEMENTS FOR PROFESSIONALS OVERSEAS

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for National Development why the Housing and Development Board has advertised vacancies for Accountants, Architects, Administrative Officers and Computer Professionals overseas and why it was not possible to recruit persons for these positions amongst Singaporeans.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, the overwhelming majority of candidates recruited by the HDB are through local recruitment exercises. Overseas recruitment is resorted to only if the Board encounters difficulties in recruiting suitable candidates locally.

In 1985, 180 graduates were recruited locally, as compared to only four graduates recruited overseas. However, the local recruitment exercises succeeded only in attracting suitable candidates for the more junior posts, but not for the senior ones. Only eight out of the 180 local graduates recruited have the necessary experience to fill the senior posts, while all the four overseas graduates recruited have five or more years of experience. Suitable Singaporean candidates are either already partners in professional practices or in well established positions and did not want to join the HDB. The vacancy position for the senior posts is further aggravated by the resignation of 20 experienced officers in 1985. The HDB therefore had to advertise overseas for the posts of Accountants, Architects, Administrative Officers and Computer Professionals to attract suitable applicants for these posts at senior management level.

Mr Jeyaretnam: I am indebted to the Minister for giving us the whole history of the general practice and policy of the HDB. But does the Minister realize that my question is directed particularly to the advertisement which was reported in December 1985? Perhaps the Minister could confine his answer to this exercise and not give the House the history of HDB policy.

May this House be told, first of all, whether the salaries offered to these people overseas, these expatriates, were the same as were offered to the locals? Secondly, were they offered housing in addition to their salaries? Thirdly, when were these posts advertised locally? Fourthly, how many of the local architects, accountants and others responded to this advertisement? Fifthly, may we know why they were not found suitable for these vacancies?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, I would suggest to the Member for Anson to submit a Written Question so that I could give a very detailed Written Answer on all the points he has raised, because they are not part of the Oral Question that he has asked.

Mr Jeyaretnam: I will send you a Written Question.