PRESIDENT Arroyo will today lead a summit aimed at saving jobs by helping workers cope with the impact of the worldwide economic slowdown, the Labor Department said yesterday.

The President called the summit, ?Joining Hands Against the Global Crisis,? in the wake of ?left and right? reports of job losses affecting Filipino workers here and abroad, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said.

?The government is determined to keep the jobs of our workers amid the continuing global financial crisis,? Roque said.

He said Malaca?ang had invited business, Church and labor leaders, educators, and the heads of non-government organizations to join government officials in discussing ways of helping workers and vulnerable industries cope with the downturn.

The stakeholders were expected to sign a joint commu-niqu? affirming their commitment to support programs aimed at preserving and creating jobs and easing the suffering of laid off workers, Roque said.

He said the President ordered the Trade and Labor Departments to organize the summit following a recent meeting of Labor officials, employers and labor leaders that discussed the same problems.

About 200 people were expected to attend the summit, Roque said. Arlie Calalo