New York  - General Motors and Chrysler, held upright by 13.4 billion dollars in federal loans, are preparing new rounds of buyouts of factory workers to meet federal requirements and survive the recession, media reports said Monday.

The companies have already notified the United Auto Workers (UAW) union of their intention, according to unnamed union officials quoted by Bloomberg financial news.

The federal government is insisting that the companies cut costs and prove they can be viable by the end of March, or the loans will be recalled.

GM, the largest US carmaker, is offering early retirement to workers at least 50 years old with 10 years' service, and is sweetening the package with a 25,000-dollar voucher to buy a new car and 20,000 dollars in cash, Bloomberg reported.

Chrysler officials told Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal that the company was offering buyouts to 26,800 US hourly workers starting Monday through February 25, but did not offer details.

Union officials told Bloomberg that the Chrysler offer includes a 50,000-dollar cash payment to workers eligible for retirement and a voucher for 25,000 dollars for a new car.

Workers not eligible for retirement would be offered 75,000 dollars in cash plus a 25,000-dollar voucher for a new car.

The added amount for the younger workers and those with less seniority would make up for the fact that they would receive no health-care benefits, The Wall Street Journal reported. In 2008, Chrysler paid retirement-ready workers 70,000 dollars to leave early and 100,000 dollars to younger workers not eligible for medical coverage. (dpa)