Brasília, 6/17/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The communications channel the government set up with its employees, the Permanent (government-civil sevant) Negotiating Table, opened for business yesterday. "This is a demonstration of the government's willingness to have a frank, open discussion on improving labor conditions," declared minister of Social Security, Ricardo Berzoini.

However, in response to a threat of a strike by civil servants and public demonstrations by judges and government lawyers in Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro, because of opposition to the proposed social security reform bill, Berzoini said the proper place to complain was before the Chamber of Deputies special commission that was dealing with the social security reform bill. (AB)