Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that the government's new incentive package would employ 500,000 people.

Erdogan made the remarks at a press conference at which he made public the new incentives.

He said the incentives would create more vocational education opportunities and training, and direct employment for almost 500,000 people.

"We will employ unemployed people in socially beneficial projects," Erdogan said.

He said unemployed people would work in forestation and environment projects, and projects to maintain, repair and clean schools.

Erdogan said the government will closely monitor developments in employment and review measures if necessary.

(Xinhua News Agency June 5, 2009)