More than 160,000 Chinese “Phantom Staff” Removed From Government Payroll

Recently, the Chinese government fired about 160 thousand of their employees. The employees who were fired are those that are considered still get salaries but not doing any work. This why, Xinhua news agency called the government employees who are dismissed as “Phantom Staff”. Paying these phantom staff of course, considered detrimental to the Chinese government.

image source: reuters.com

As national media reported, local newspaper the People's Daily, on Monday (06/10/2014), a total of 162,629 government employees who were fired in all regions of China. Dismissal reason are because they continue to receive a salary, although it does not work. Hebei province in central China was the worst Offender, with 55,793 phantom staff fired. Moreover, about 15,000 officials were uncovered in Henan province, followed by Sichuan.

The dismissal of thousands of government employees is the local authority in order to campaign against corruption and irregularities state budget. President Xi Jinping still launches the campaign even it is triggering public protest. Counter party calling the campaign will get a lot of obstacles because of a lack of fundamental reforms to the bureaucracy, as an independent legal system.

The issue of government employees continue to receive salaries without working has become one of the most common problems reported by the cadre. People's Daily added, there is no phantom staff' were found in the region of Shanghai and Tibet. It also said that the officials involved will be punished, but did not explain further punishment. The People's Daily also said that 114,418 official vehicles had been scrapped out of a total of 119,846. China has promised to phase out the use of government vehicles by the end of 2015, except for those used for emergencies and law enforcement.