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)