Papers gloomy on job prospects

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The gloom hanging over the jobs market is a common theme running through today's papers.

The Sunday Times reports that millions of private-sector workers are facing a freeze on their pay.

The warning comes from the CBI, which says the majority of its members will not award wage rises this year.

However the paper says most public-sector workers are on three-year pay deals which it says will help them "sail through the downturn".

Economic misery could drag the UK into a "summer of discontent", say the Sunday Express and the Star.

Civil unrest

The Express says the security services are concerned that public fury about City bonuses and bank bailouts could be about to erupt in civil unrest.

It says the Army has been put on stand-by and that the police's Special Branch and MI5 are targeting a "motley crew of political extremists".

The Star says the British National Party has been canvassing outside job centres in the north of England.

It warns that police are concerned there could be more race riots in Bradford, Burnley and Oldham.

The Independent on Sunday says help could arrive for vulnerable people who lose out most during recessions.

Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell is to launch a review of the labour market to protect women, disabled workers and ethnic minorities.

The Sunday Telegraph says the Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has not won over Labour MPs opposed to the part-privatisation of Royal Mail.

More than 80% of the rebel MPs questioned by the Telegraph say Lord Mandelson's concessions have not convinced them.

Violent attacks

The Mail on Sunday and the Sunday Mirror report on the rise in crime among young women.

The Mail says violent attacks by binge drinking teenaged girls have risen by 300% in seven years.

The Mirror says girls under the age of 17 were behind more than 20,000 violent crimes in England and Wales last year.

The Mirror also takes to task the chief executive of Royal Mail, which it brands "shameless".

It says £6m has been paid into a pension pot for him and other senior executives.

But it says the company paid much less into a separate fund for rank-and-file workers - which is says is now on the brink of collapse.

'Wasted breath'

Writing in the Observer Andrew Rawnsley urges the government to "show some teeth" in its dealings with bank bosses.

He says "exhortation and condemnation is wasted breath" on a man like former Royal Bank of Scotland boss Sir Fred Goodwin, who Mr Rawnsley says "feels no shame".

"If taxpayers had not bailed out RBS there would be no pension pot for Sir Fred to stick his paw into"

He continues: "If the law is the problem with stopping him, then the law can be changed".

Photographs of the reality TV star, Jade Goody, again appear on most of the front pages of the tabloids.

The Mirror reports that having been taken into a hospice, Ms Goody fears she may have only days to live.

The People says the 27-year-old is determined to die at home, and that her two young sons are living with their father while she stays at the hospice.