The committee proposed new bonuses, skills development schemes, and training for workers' children, a statement said.

The bonus plan primarily targets those who earn S$1200 (US$739; €609) a month or less and would benefit 300,000 Singaporeans, the committee said.

The recommendations follow Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's speech on New Year's Eve, in which he said the government would share its surpluses with Singaporeans, in particular with lower-income earners. The Singapore economy grew 5.7 percent last year.

Lee, the son of the country's founding father Lee Kuan Yew, is expected to announce early elections this year to seek a mandate for his policies. He became prime minister in 2004. The elections were scheduled for mid-2007.

The government will study the proposals and respond to them in the 2006-2007 budget announcement next month, according to a letter from Lee published on the manpower ministry's Web site.

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