31.   But because of high unemployment here, the Iranian labor ministry recently banned employers from hiring foreigners -- a measure which mainly affects Afghan manual laborers.

32.   The Polish labor ministry is to send a fact-finding mission to Libya shortly to examine the plight of the Polish nurses there, a ministry spokesman said.

33.   It was imposed after trade unions and oil company representatives failed to reach agreement at a meeting called by the labor ministry.

34.   Kurdi rushed to the Palestinian labor ministry to try to obtain authorization to work after hearing the Israeli announcement, but he was refused.

35.   The labor ministry here on Wednesday requested an official arbitration to prevent unions of three key public sector firms from striking, Labor Minister Jin Nyum said.

36.   The labor ministry has refused these demands, said Ahmed Marai, a secretary general of the electricity workers union.