International   

China’s “rice bowl” system to be revamped

Beijing: The last bastion of China’s famous “iron rice bowl” system of lifetime employment — the civil service — has been breached. State media announced that the first batch of six government workers hired under a new system designed to eventually transform the civil service into an incentive-oriented, performance-driven career, will soon begin work in the Pudong special economic zone of Shanghai.

For decades, China’s Communist system and the “tie guofan” or iron rice-bowl were almost synonymous; the state guarantying workers cradle-to-grave employment and basic welfare provisions. Though this system gradually began to be dismantled in the 1980s with state-owned enterprises furloughing surplus labour and hiring workers on time-specific contracts, the civil service has thus far remained largely sheltered from the sweeping economic reforms affecting other public sector enterprises.

Now, however, the central government has asked a few select cities across the country, including Shenzhen, Wenzhou and Pudong to institute a pilot programme aimed at weaning away civil servants from the idea that a government job will provide lifelong security and better-than-average pay, regardless of performance.

The official China Daily newspaper quoted sources from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security as saying that regulations detailing the dismissal and resignation of civil servants are being worked out and are expected to be released and adopted by the end of the year.

The six vacancies advertised in the Pudong government included posts in financial planning, economic analysis, education management and venture capital investment.

The successful candidates have been awarded their positions for an initial employment period of three years. While performance checks are stricter than before an easier exit mechanism has also been put in place. Given that in China, success in the civil service exams has been the primary route to a secure and prestigious career since imperial times, even the pilot project represents a historic departure from tradition with potentially profound consequences.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

China’s “rice bowl” system to be revamped
Act of aggression, says Pakistan
Gyanendra to stay in Nepal
Brown survives close vote on terror Bill
Iran firm on nuclear plan
Hasina released on parole
Taiwan hopeful of fruitful talks
LTTE attacks Navy outpost
Rajapaksa faces Tamil protest
Chaudhary for justice at people’s doorsteps
7 per cent rise in Pakistan defence outlay
Trial by sudoku
Now for an organic tipple

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu