wage labour costs, such as pension and healthcare contributions, so as help pave the way for job creation. "Through our reforms, the complete truth about the labour market will come to light," Clement said ahead of Wednesday's release of the jobless data. "In the future there will be no 'dark numbers', no hidden or repressed jobless." Either way, Schroeder needs to substantially cut back jobless numbers in the coming months so as to build on a recent pickup in his government opinion poll ratings and to ensure that it is on course to victory in the 2006 national elections. As a reminder of the fragile state of the German labour market, giant German electronics group, Siemens AG announced last week that it was trimming its German fixed-line business workforce in Germany by 600. The latest unemployment data are to be released against the backdrop of a surprise jump in German business confidence and a more optimistic outlook from the country's hard-pressed consumers. --MORE 2349 Local Time 2049 GMT
