Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday voiced his concern over unemployment amid the ongoing global financial storm that has affected the country's real economy.

"The president ... is very concerned about the jobs matter," said Labor Minister Carlos Lupi after an emergency meeting with the president.

"When the jobs are affected, the heart of a country's economy is affected," he said.

Lula has urged the release of the unemployment figure of last month, which is due next Monday, so that the government can take the appropriate steps.

Meanwhile, Lupi criticized some car manufacturers in the country for sacking employees despite a recent tax cut.

"The government has already taken some measures to contain the unemployment, and made some tax exemptions in sectors such as car manufacturing. I cannot understand how, despite the reduction in the IPI (Tax over Industrialized Products), some companies in this sector are still dismissing (employees)," he said.

"I find that absurd," he added.

According to the minister, the number of dismissals in December surpassed the monthly average level last year, which was about 300,000.

(Xinhua News Agency January 15, 2009)