DHAKA: China has taken 160,000 ‘phantom’ government staff off its official payroll who were receiving salaries despite not doing any work.

State-media reported on Monday, reports The Straits Times.

A total of 162,629 officials who were taking government wages without working have been removed in a nationwide campaign over the last year, the People’s Daily newspaper said.

The province of Hebei in northern China saw the largest number of such officials, according to the paper, with nearly 56,000 identified.

Chinese president Xi Jinping has launched a high-profile campaign against rampant corruption and misuse of government funds, in the face of widespread public anger.

BDST: 1646 HRS, OCT 06, 2014