Windhoek
The soon to be operationalised Revenue Agency will be exempted from civil service laws and will be free to adopt processes and acquire systems to achieve operational efficiency. Also, there will not be an automatic transfer of personnel to the agency, meaning that all jobs will be treated as new and open to new applications based on the job requirements of the Revenue Agency.
“It should be noted that in our case, we are establishing the Revenue Agency for the purpose of attracting and retaining specialised skills needed to execute the functions of a modern tax administration and realise operational efficiency,” said Finance Minister Calle Schlettwein on Friday when addressing his staff on transitional human resources issues of the new agency.
“The recruitment will be sequenced. Immediately after the law is passed, the board and commissioner will be appointed. The board will assist in the selection and appointment of the commissioner and the senior management team through a competitive process,” Schlettwein explained.
Schlettwein added that for the rest of the agency’s staff personnel, the first round of recruitment will be conducted internally by giving all the current staff of the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) and customs and excise who meet the requirements the first opportunity to apply for the positions.
Once this stage (internal recruitment) is completed, all remaining vacancies will be advertised externally.
“Whether internal or external, all applicants who are shortlisted will be subjected to background and integrity check processes for purposes of asset verification and a certificate of criminal conduct to determine suitability in the revenue agency. In terms of the public service rules, staff who did not make it for the Revenue Agency will, in the immediate, remain in the employment of the Ministry of Finance,” said Schlettwein. He said that alternative options will also be available, such as staff who are near retirement age who may opt for early retirement. “Some may choose to separate voluntarily. Others may be redeployed within the public service on the basis of existing opportunities within the service.
We understand that due care needs to be exercised in this process and consultation and communication are required to make this transition as smooth as possible,” Schlettwein stated.
The Draft Revenue Agency Bill will now be prepared to be submitted to the Ministry of Justice for legal scrutiny and clearance, while tabling of the Bill is scheduled for the September and October session of parliament.
“The key remaining work is to finalise the organisational structure and personnel needs of the institution. The board’s appointment and initial staffing for senior management will commence after the Bill is passed into law. We aim for a smooth transition process with no interruption to our business operations and so that the concerns of our people are objectively addressed. While this transition is ongoing, we should not relent on our tasks at hand, that of efficient revenue collection, tax administration and customs and excise service provision,” Schlettwein added.