Nearly two years ago, officials here in Saxony hit on the idea of hooking up their idle workers with foreign employers.

Critics of the amendment felt that the move hurt Americans competing for jobs abroad by putting an unnecessary tax burden on foreign employers.

One debate focused on whether to allow foreign employers to hire their workers directly rather than through Government agencies, which was ultimately rejected.

And what special obligations - if any - do foreign employers have to their American workers?

An alien in this status may only be employed for the foreign employer.

Its workers earn high marks from foreign employers - and not just for the low pay.

Europe is still the main donor for development cooperation, the biggest foreign employer.

Japan is already the top foreign employer in the area.

The government says foreign employers can view this directly, cutting out middlemen, who are sometimes accused of malpractice.

And the battle to attract foreign employers remains a fiercely competitive one.