China's prosecutors have warned officials shielding the operators of unsafe mines and factories they they will be the focus of an intensified crackdown on job-related crime.

Government staff who approve operations at unsafe mines or turn a blind eye to illegal mining activities will be the target of investigations, prosecutors decided at a nationwide conference on Friday.

Prosecutors will also focus on officials who obstruct work safety inspections and collude with illegal mine owners by acting as "protective umbrellas".

Officials who fail to report accidents truthfully and in a timely manner were also listed as a priority.

China's industrial safety record remains grim despite continued government efforts. About 320 people are killed every day on average in workplace and traffic accidents in China.

"Many accidents are directly related to power abuse and dereliction of duty," Wang Zhenchuan, Deputy Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, said at the conference.

Wang instructed prosecutors to improve investigative capability and be tough on job-related crimes that would undermine work safety.

"No matter which department it is, whoever it is, anyone involved will be investigated and severely punished," he said.

By Dec. 20, prosecutors had investigated 1,383 serious workplace accidents in 2006 and 629 government employees were prosecuted.

Source: Xinhua