A professor is put to work as a gatekeeper, while research fellows deliver newspapers and perform odd jobs.

Such "wastes of talent" occurring due to personnel reform at the Hebei Academy of Sciences has evoked arguments over the fairness of the policy, reports People's Daily.

Liu Zhiming, a foreign language professor, director of the Hebei Interpreting Committee and chairman of the Interpreting Association, was offered a sentry's post at the academy in 1993 when the company where he worked as a manager went bankrupt.

The 56-year-old worked as a gatekeeper until he was able to resume his translation work in 1997.

Wang Yinghua, an assistant researcher, and Zhang Chengwei, an engineer with the Energy Institute of the Hebei Academy of Sciences, were both told to deliver newspapers and given odd jobs to perform in the janitor's rooms.

Liu Shuhuang, an administrator with the Hebei Academy of Science, explained it as an unavoidable side effect of the reform. But the three men said it was a waste of their talent and unfair to them.

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