Applicants for positions at public institutes in Hecheng district should satisfy several "discriminatory" requirements, which include one or both parents who work at local public institutes, according to a recruitment post on the official website, xinhuanet.com reported on Jan 6.

Two other requirements say they should have local permanent residency and one or both parents who work for units affiliated with the central or local government, said the recruitment notice posted on Dec 22.

Some criticized the requirements, saying the positions would be restricted to children whose parents have worked at the public units, or "guanerdai", and thought that the parents' identifications would become the most important part of that application process.

But according to Yue Yang, director of the personnel bureau, "These restrictions are aimed at improving employment in our district. Many people in neighboring districts also have permanent residency." He added that the requirements could help local residents find jobs. Besides, he said, the second requirement protects the right of local residents and he denied protecting the "guanerdai".

But the new requirements posted on Jan 6 leave out the restrictions about applicants' parents and permits those who have lived here more than one year to apply for positions.