Police have arrested two men in east China for forging signatures and seals of county officials to get 33 people illegally employed in government-sponsored institutions.

Shi Guoqi and Wang Jinlai, both jobless vagrants in Qihe County, Shandong province, commited the alleged forgery earlier this year in exchange for cash, said a statement from the Ministry of Personnel.

Units sponsored by the Qihe County government employed 33 people in the county personnel bureau in violation of regulations and procedures after being presented with the faked documents.

County officials and staff connected to the case had been "severely punished" for their "severe dereliction of duty", and all 33 people had been dismissed, the statement said.

Both state and provincial leaders expressed concern and gave instructions on the investigation of the case, said the statement, which ordered "enhanced supervision" and "more transparency" in employing people in government departments and government-sponsored institutions.

The ministry is to launch a national survey next year to identify misconduct in the hiring of people in government-sponsored institutions.

Source: Xinhua