The number of government employees who were reprimanded in 2009 rose 27.7 percent from the previous year to 757, marking the first increase since 2005, the National Personnel Authority said.
Roughly half the total, or 370 public servants, came from the agriculture ministry, up 318 from 2008, as a large number were found to have engaged in labor union activities during work hours without permission, in violation of the national public service law.