Volkswagen has set a target for the end of the month asking staff who had knowledge about its diesel emission test cheating to step forward.
The company said workers who made contact with internal investigators would be exempt from dismissal.
In a letter from VW brand chief Herbert Diess to staff, he said the offer was being made in the interests of “full and swift clarification”.
VW has said workers who gave information on what they might know would not be made redundant but they could be transferred to other duties.
The letter said: “Employees covered by collective bargaining agreements who get in touch promptly, but no later than November 30, 2015… and… may rest assured that the company will waive consequences under labour law such as the termination of employment, and will not make any claim for damages.”
The company has put aside $6.7billion to meet the cost of recalling the diesel vehicles worldwide that were fitted with so called “defeat devices”.