GM North America President Troy Clarke says in an e-mail to workers obtained by The Associated Press that the layoffs are needed to ensure GM's long-term viability.

Last month GM began cutting 3,400 US salaried jobs as part of the 47,000 job cuts that it will make worldwide by year's end.

GM is living on US$13.4 billion (S$20.2 billion) in government loans and faces a June 1 deadline to cut costs and gain concessions from stakeholders in order to get more government help.

It may be forced to file for bankruptcy protection. -- AP