UPDATE 1-Slovak jobless rate nears record low in February

...February, bringing it near record 
lows as warm weather boosted seasonal work, the Labour Office 
said on Tuesday. 
    The jobless rate fell steadily to a record low of 9.12 
percent in November from around 20 percent four years ago due to 
a crack down on welfare abuse and strong economic growth. But 
the rate then moved slightly higher due to layoffs and seasonal 
factors, reaching 9.45 percent in January. 
    Vladimir Hasko, head of the Labour Office's research 
department, said unemployment could fall below 9 percent in 
March. "It is possible, if the weather is good for seasonal work 
... and if new jobs are created by foreign investors," he said. 
    But the office saw risks in textile industry lay-offs due to 
cheap imports from China.  
    Large foreign direct investments, such as in the booming car 
and electronics industries, have helped to boost employment in 
recent years.  A new factory by South Korea's Samsung 
Electronics , announced earlier in March, is expected 
to create 1,200 new jobs, while its suppliers should employ a 
further 4,500 people. 
    Foreign investment helped to push economic growth to a 
record 8.3 percent in 2006, taking the small ex-communist 
European Union member into the ranks of the world's fastest 
growing nations such as China and the Baltic states.