At the end of two days of talks, the Group of Eight countries have agreed a seven-point list of core principles for job creation.

British Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown looked forward to a "new agenda" of reforms that will bring "both economic efficiency and social progress".

"We must ensure that the important messages of this conference are heard by policy makers around the world and that we continue to share best practice," said Mr Brown, who hosted the London meeting.

Differences in approach

The list of objectives mixes "soft" objectives like improving training and measures for the young unemployed and disabled, with "hard" ones, like "structural reforms" and "promotion of adaptable working time arrangements and work organization".

This reflects continuing differences in emphasis between the US and Britain on the one hand and the rest of Europe on the other.

Europe's benefits are traditionally more generous, but the unemployment rate in many European countries is around double that of the US and UK.

The French insisted they did not wish to create a "society made for winners" but French officials said there had been a "convergence of views" at the summit.

Mr Brown admitted the G8 followed different models but said the fact that all eight had endorsed the same principles showed his "new thinking" was taking hold.

"We are facing in the same direction," he said.

He added that "It is now important that the principles are turned into practise". At the next G8 meeting, in Birmingham in May, the countries' leaders will present job action plans.

The Group of Eight comprises Britain, the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan - the G7 - plus Russia, which joined recently.

The seven core objectives:

Promoting equal opportunities and combatting discrimination for all workers.
 

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