'Steps taken by G20 countries during recession created jobs'

"Employment and social protection measures taken by G20 countries since the economic crisis will have created or saved an estimated 7 to 11 million jobs in the G20 countries this year, the report said.

It will be presented at the G20 Summit being held in Pittsburgh on September 24 and 25.

Titled 'protecting people promoting jobs,' the report made the findings based on surveys done between mid 2008 and up to July this year in 54 countries in four areas such as stimulating labour demand, supporting jobs, job seekers, and unemployed.

It found that six most frequently taken measures taken by G20 countries included additional spending on infrastructure, subsidies and tax reductions for small enterprises, credit for small enterprises, training programmes and consultations with employers and workers organisations.

"These measures correspond closely to the policy options outlined in the Global Jobs Pact" which was ratified by several countries including India at an ILO summit in Geneva in June this year, the report said.

The ILO report, however, noted that lower income countries needed additional support to strengthen their employment and social protection responses to the crisis.