11.   The companies blame rigid labor laws and growing taxes.

12.   The Europeans have moved slower because their rigid labor laws make it very hard, or very costly, to lay off workers.

13.   The only way to reduce high levels of unemployment is to reform rigid labor markets which discourage job creation, said Summers.

14.   To be sure, many other European countries have high taxes and often rigid labor regulations.

15.   Duisenberg chastised euro-zone nations for not loosening rigid labor market rules to help create jobs.

16.   European Central Bank President Wim Duisenberg Thursday suggested governments should reform rigid labor markets to create jobs rather than pressure him into cutting interest rates.

17.   Juppe has angered unions by cutting business taxes and pension benefits, selling off state companies and trying to loosen rigid labor laws.

18.   Kern of National Westminster noted that rigid labor markets and other structural problems in Europe could still stymie growth.

19.   They cite a rigid labor market as a major stumbling block to South Korean corporate reforms.