FUJIYOSHIDA, Yamanashi Pref. -- About 40 percent of respondents to a Japan Federation of Employers' Associations (Nikkeiren) survey support a merger with the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren), according to a report released Thursday.

A team set up by Nikkeiren in May to consider the proposed consolidation interviewed or delivered questionnaires to 293 business leaders, labor union directors, high-level government officials and intellectuals. Of these, 128 responded -- including 107 leaders of Nikkeiren's member organizations.

Around 40 percent of the respondents said the two business groups should merge, citing reasons including an increase in the two groups' influence on national policy and improved efficiency within business circles, according to a report based on the results of the survey.

About 20 percent of the respondents expressed opposition to the possible consolidation, while the remaining 40 percent expressed neither clear support nor opposition, the report says.

Opponents cited the notion that Nikkeiren's major role is to maintain a cooperative relationship between employers and labor unions, a markedly different role from that of Keidanren.

About 50 percent of the 107 leaders of Nikkeiren member organizations questioned are undecided on the issue, while 30 percent support the merger and about 20 percent oppose it, according to the report.

Nikkeiren, which researches and formulates policies on labor-management issues, consists of 47 prefectural employers' associations and 60 industrial-base groups.

This afternoon's debate, to be conducted by the roughly 50 leaders of Nikkeiren member organizations gathered here for the Nikkeiren's three-day annual seminar, will be based on the report.

Earlier in the day, Nikkeiren Chairman Hiroshi Okuda told seminar participants that both employers and employees need to develop a new kind of relationship as the information technology revolution spurs structural changes in the labor market.

Addressing about 50 executives from 37 companies, Okuda, who became chairman last year, said both sides need to work toward the establishment of a system that will support a diverse number of employment styles.