A Shanxi official sacked in July for her role in the brick kiln slave scandal had been quietly re-employed by the same authority before being suspended again on Monday because of a public outcry, mainland media reported yesterday.
Former Yaodu district director Duan Chunxia was re-employed by the district government as a deputy director last month.
Ms Duan was one of dozens of officials who stepped down to take responsibility for the scandal, in which more than 600 people, some of them children, were tortured and forced to work around the clock in miserable conditions for years. The incident sent shockwaves through the public and the leadership.
Her comeback appeared to violate Communist Party guidelines stipulating that all official appointments be publicised before the person takes office.
According to a district government worker quoted by Chinese Business View, based in Xian , Ms Duan's subordinates continued to greet her as 'director' after she was sacked, and she kept her government office and car.
News of the appointment sparked a flood of online criticism.