May 1, 2007
The high rate of suicides among Japanese businessmen may be trumped by neighbouring China after 6.5 million civil servants were warned that they could face the push for keeping a mistress.
Under landmark legislation, government officials who engage in illegal or immoral activities such as having a mistress or gambling will risk losing their job, while abusing or abandoning family members or refusing to support elderly relatives will also be deemed a sackable offence.
According to a Xinhua report http://www.chinaview.cn, the regulation is "China's first to systematically stipulate what administrative punishments civil servants abusing their power will receive".
The new legislation has been approved by the State Council and is scheduled to come into force (who are we to argue with a country boasting the world's largest standing army of 2.3 million) on 1 June.
Additional misconducts include:
- Using influence to benefit a lover;
- Engaging in corruption, organising superstitious gatherings, taking drugs, and engaging in sex trade;
- Abusing or abandoning family members or refusing to support elderly relatives;
- Embezzling or losing public funds meant for disaster relief, poverty relief, resident resettlement, social security and land appropriation compensation; and
- Engaging in fraud and misleading their superiors and the public.
Moreover, government staff members whose duties results in accidents, disasters, environmental pollution and "mass protests", also face being fired.
Now while Guru doesn't condone infidelity, in fear of upsetting Mrs Guru more than anything, and before he runs out of alternatives for the word 'sacked' he is reminded of former home secretary, David Blunkett, whose antics not too long ago might have stimulated debate amongst higher powers over similar policies being adopted in the UK.
And spare a thought for a potential 6.5 million mistresses who will be left out of pocket. Guru suggests a quick boat journey across the Sea of Japan to bolster the dwindling number of Geishas.
