BEIJING -- The top legislature wants better recruitment, appraisal and management of civil servants to improve government functions in the grassroots, according to a report released Thursday.

While the recruitment of civil servants is increasingly transparent and fair, some practices and patterns are still far from meeting the requirements for various posts, according to a report delivered to the bimonthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

Some departments at the township level are suffering from a lack of civil servants as the life, working conditions and low salaries are unattractive, according to the report by the Internal and Judicial Affairs Committee of the NPC.

The basic salaries of civil servants have not increased since 2006 despite rising commodity prices and average salaries of Chinese citizens.

Some civil servants have resigned due to heavy pressure of work and the hardship of life.

The current appraisal mechanism is improving but still far from being rational and standardized.

The report urged proper implementation of the Civil Servant Law, providing sound management systems and conditions for civil servants, especially those in the grassroots, so that they can better serve the public.

In another development of the bimonthly session which runs from Monday to Saturday, Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over a meeting to hear reports on draft amendments to several laws.

The progress of lawmakers' reviews of draft amendments to the Administrative Procedure Law and the Counterespionage Law as well as a draft decision to set up a National Constitution Day was reported at the meeting.

The next chairperson's meeting will decide whether to put the above documents to the vote.