An environmental protection bureau in Hunan province is allegedly forcing prospective employees to pay 10,000 yuan ($1,463) for jobs.

A 32-year-old environment inspector in the Xupu county bureau said the scheme has been an unwritten rule for new hires since 2000.

"It has become an explicit must-do. To walk in the door, one has to lend first. You know, the bureau is a decent employer by all means," said the inspector, surnamed Wang.