Brown wants jobless to work on Olympics build

Gordon Brown set out plans to push 200,000 jobless people into work over the next five years, including a program to get thousands working on construction projects for London's 2012 Olympics.

Brown told the GMB union in Brighton that the government will establish a series of Employment Partnerships with companies, aiming to match workers with vacancies. People claiming long-term benefits will receive job trials and mentoring from employers. At the end of the program, they will be guaranteed a job interview.

The measures are part of Brown's plan to reduce government benefit payments and get more of the 7.9 million classified as inactive back into the workforce. Britain will spend £161 billion pounds on welfare programs this year, more than on health, defense and transportation combined.