The job cuts will take place this year and reduce GM's salaried workforce by about 10,000 to 63,000. In its home US market, about 3,400 of its 29,500 employees will be affected.
GM said it was cutting executives' base pay by 10 per cent and that of many of its other salaried employees by three to seven per cent as of May 1. It said its other global operations were reviewing pay and benefits.
The company, which is receiving an emergency $13.4bn government bridge loan, promised to cut its white-collar staff in a presentation to Congress in December. GM is due to present government with proposals for its long-term viability by February 17.