Beijing seeks govt executives on contract to boost growth

An annual salary of no less than 200,000 yuan ($32,640) will be offered to six new high-ranking government employees hired by Beijing on fixed-term contracts, announced the capital's public service authority.

The six senior executive positions, which are highly prioritized to boost the capital's growth, are with agencies including the municipal science and technology committee, the transport commission and the economic-technological development area.

However, those positions are not government jobs for life, often referred to as the "iron rice bowl," as the two or three-year-long contract not only has a probation period varying from three to six months, but also can be terminated should the person fail a performance test.

All Chinese citizens under the age of 45, physically and psychologically healthy with relevant qualifications and skills, can apply for the positions, reads the recruitment announcement.

Qualified candidates must file their application before 6 pm on June 24. Candidates have to pass a tailored written test, an interview, a comprehensive review and a seven-day public review period before being recruited.

Long before Beijing, Shenzhen already started recruiting government employees with a contract in 2007.

More than 3,200 of some 40,000 government employees are working there on a contract basis.

Contract-based recruitment, which smashes the permanence and stability of the "iron rice bowl," has also been expanded to cities and provinces including Shanghai.

Generally, a candidate has to pass a unified civil service exam and an interview before being  hired by a State organ. In 2012, some 1.5 million candidates took the exam, with 75 competing for a position on average.

Mao Shoulong, a public administration professor at the Renmin University of China, said it is suitable to recruit intermediate and senior professionals through contracts, who may be unwilling to take the general exam and not work in one place for their whole life.

However, Mao said he sees no need to recruit all government employees on a contract basis, adding that neither of the systems is foolproof.