About four crore job seekers were registered in the employment exchanges in the country as on December 31, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Wedneday.

As per the 61st round of National Sample Survey Report, 2004-05, about 1.28 crore people enter the labour forces every year.

"The total number of job seekers, all of whom may not necessarily be unemployed, on the live register of employment exchanges as on December 31, was around four crore", Labour and Employment Minister Oscar Fernandes said in a written reply.

The number of placements effected through employment exchanges in the country stood at about 1.43 lakh during 2002, 1.55 lakh in 2003, 1.33 lakh in 2004 and 1.73 lakh in 2005, he said.

FDI: With a view to catalysing investment in townships and built-up infrastructure, the government has allowed FDI up to 100 per cent on the automatic route in construction development projects including construction of malls and shopping centres, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Ashwani Kumar said.

SEZs: As per information available, some cases of protests by farmers have been reported from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Maharashtra against acquisition of land by state government for setting up industries including special economic zones.

All outstanding concerns and issues pertaining to SEZs have been placed before the empowered group of ministers and are currently under consideration, Kumar said.