No going on holiday without asking permission, Chengdu civil servants are told
Cadres are now required to live close to work, and not leave town for business or holidays without permission
Civil servants in the Chengdu, Sichuan, must report to their bosses if they leave the city for work or even a holiday, according to a new list of rules intended to make officials more efficient and accountable.
Under the rules, published by the Chengdu Evening News today, city and county officials must now live in their localities and follow the correct procedures if they leave the provincial capital for business trips, official visits or study as well as holidays and personal reasons.
The greater Chengdu region, one of China’s 15 sub-provincial cities, covers more 12,000 square kilometres and includes nine city districts, six counties and four satellite cities. The total population is about 21 million, almost as many as Taiwan or Australia.
The newspaper obtained a document from a municipal committee group that details six new rules designed to stop officials from living outside of the city and commuting to work.
Spot checks will monitor compliance and violators will face disciplinary action.
The document states that city, county and party government leaders should live in their localities, especially in economically backward areas or districts where the level of public satisfaction is low, and this would be a factor in annual appraisals and promotions.
Another rule states that city and county secretaries, mayors, governors and vice-secretaries cannot all leave the city at the same time, except for important meetings or events – and even then, a written explanation will be needed for why so many officials are away at once.
The document states that city, county and party government leaders should regular and relief shifts.
On-duty leaders cannot leave their post without permission and those filling relief posts must not leave the city.
They must be contactable at all times to ensure matters are handled immediately. And, just to be sure, officials must complete daily work logs.
