Gordon Brown is to host talks with business and union leaders about measures aimed at safeguarding jobs during the downturn.
Gordon Brown is to host talks with business and union leaders about measures aimed at safeguarding jobs during the downturn.
With 1.8 million people out of work, the prime minister is expected to warn that a failure to act now will mean a deeper and longer recession.
With 1.8 million people out of work, the prime minister is expected to warn that a failure to act now will mean a deeper and longer recession.
Plans to help the long-term unemployed may include paying employers up to £2,500 for every person they train.
Plans to help the long-term unemployed may include paying employers up to £2,500 for every person they train.
The Tories say the government's job package "does not go far enough".
The Tories say the government's job package "does not go far enough".
Mr Brown is expected to open the jobs summit at the Science Museum in London with a warning that a deeper recession would mean whole communities being written off and lasting damage to the economy.
Mr Brown is expected to open the jobs summit at the Science Museum in London with a warning that a deeper recession would mean whole communities being written off and lasting damage to the economy.
Cash inducements
Cash inducements
BBC political correspondent Carole Walker said the prime minister will pledge "this will not happen on my watch".
Before Christmas the number of people out of work stood at 1.8 million and some economists believe it could approach three million by 2010.
Before Christmas the number of people out of work stood at 1.8 million and some economists believe it could approach three million by 2010.
The building industry is now one sector under real pressure
To combat that, Mr Brown will set out plans to prepare Britain for growth in sectors such as environmental technology, advanced manufacturing, health care and education.
To combat that, Mr Brown will set out plans to prepare Britain for growth in sectors such as environmental technology, advanced manufacturing, health care and education.
The building industry is now one sector under real pressure
Ahead of the summit he told GMTV the aim was to "keep people in jobs, create more jobs... and of course, stop people being repossessed in their homes".
He said there was "no other way" and said countries around the world were following the UK's moves in "sorting out the banking system, and now trying to get the economy moving".
As part of the summit, Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell will give details of a £500m scheme to help people who have been out of work for more than six months.
As part of the summit, Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell will give details of a £500m scheme to help people who have been out of work for more than six months.
That could include paying employers up to £2,500 for every person they recruit and train who has been unemployed for more than six months.
That could include paying employers up to £2,500 for every person they recruit and train who has been unemployed for more than six months.
The government will hear from small business leaders. The Federation of Small Business has launched a five-point plan which it says could create up to 400,000 new jobs.
The government will hear from small business leaders. The Federation of Small Business has launched a five-point plan which it says could create up to 400,000 new jobs.
Measures it is calling for include the promotion of part-time working, simplified regulation and less taxes.
Measures it is calling for include the promotion of part-time working, simplified regulation and less taxes.
It also wants to see more investment in apprenticeships and greater opportunity for small firms to bid for government contracts.
It also wants to see more investment in apprenticeships and greater opportunity for small firms to bid for government contracts.
Protecting jobs
Protecting jobs
Union leaders at the summit will propose more training and job creation programmes, while environmental campaigners want greater investment in energy efficiency.
Union leaders at the summit will propose more training and job creation programmes, while environmental campaigners want greater investment in energy efficiency.
Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of union Unite, said he welcomed any attempt to create new jobs but there needed to be more emphasis on protecting existing jobs, particularly in car manufacturing.
Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of union Unite, said he welcomed any attempt to create new jobs but there needed to be more emphasis on protecting existing jobs, particularly in car manufacturing.
"The businesses are basically sound, it's a question that they have a cash flow problem, commercial loans are difficult or more difficult through banks who don't appear to be passing on the advantage the government has given them," he said.
"The businesses are basically sound, it's a question that they have a cash flow problem, commercial loans are difficult or more difficult through banks who don't appear to be passing on the advantage the government has given them," he said.
"And the government needs to step in to ensure that these particularly skilled jobs are not lost because once lost they'll never return."
"And the government needs to step in to ensure that these particularly skilled jobs are not lost because once lost they'll never return."
The Conservatives are dismissing the event as more spin than substance, designed they say, to cover up that Mr Brown's recession policies are not working.
The Conservatives are dismissing the event as more spin than substance, designed they say, to cover up that Mr Brown's recession policies are not working.
Shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The package on jobs is welcome as far as it goes, but it doesn't go far enough.
Shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The package on jobs is welcome as far as it goes, but it doesn't go far enough.
"It's ironic that the government are accusing Tories of being a do-nothing party and then adopting the Conservatives' proposals on unemployment."
"It's ironic that the government are accusing Tories of being a do-nothing party and then adopting the Conservatives' proposals on unemployment."
Have you been unemployed for six months or more? What are your experiences? What do you make of the government's plans to help you to get back to work? Send us your comments using the form below.
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