China's State Council has approved a regulation on the establishment and size of local governments, which stresses responsibility and aims to tackle overstaffing problems.

Comprising 30 articles in six chapters, the regulation requires local governments at all levels to set up minimal, unified and efficient departments with reasonable numbers of staff.

The establishment of departments should be based on comprehensive consideration of responsibilities and ensure coordinated efforts in carrying out policies and decisions.

Departments with similar or identical duties should be unified by negotiation, and the final decision should be made by local governments if any disputes occur.

Meanwhile, the regulation limits the authorized size of local governments to within local financial resources, and bans the establishment of additional departments or recruitment of more staff.

Legal responsibilities and penalties for overstaffing are clarified in the regulation, said an official with the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council.

To enforce the regulation, it requires improved management and supervision, and stipulates penalties for officials who set up, unite, cancel or rename government departments without authorization.

It also calls for more efforts to publicize the regulation among officials and government employees.

The regulation will be effective from May 1.

Source: Xinhua