The State Council has released a new regulation to tighten
administrative discipline on civil servants. Civil servants in
China may lose their jobs for unlawful or immoral behaviors such as
taking mistresses, according to the regulation.
Premier Wen Jiabao signed a decree with the State
Council on April 22 to promulgate the regulation, and the
55-article regulation is scheduled to take effect as of June 1.
The regulation targets various wrongdoings and misconducts
relating to China's civil servants, aimed at "regulating their
behaviors and making sure they perform their duty according to the
law."
The regulation stipulates six administrative penalties for
misbehavior by civil servants, namely, warning, recording demerit,
recording serious demerit, demotion, discharge from leading duties,
and dismissal.
There will be no promotion or salary increases for an official
who received an administrative penalty. Those who have been
stripped of their posts will take up lower ranking, said the
regulation.
According to the regulation, government officials who organize
superstitious gatherings, use drugs, or organize, support, or
engage in the sex trade will be stripped of their posts or fired
from office.
The regulation also makes it legitimate to fire government
officials who abuse or abandon family members or refuse to support
elderly ones.
(China.org.cn April 29, 2007)