The UK Government this week will ask about a dozen international banks including the US' Citigroup and Goldman Sachs to toughen the terms of bonuses they pay to UK employees, in an effort to contain public anger as banks enjoying the benefits of government stimulus start paying out what are expected to be bumper 2009 bonuses.

The Wednesday meeting with 10 banks that also include JP Morgan Chase, Deutsche Bank and Nomura Holdings is being held two weeks after the UK Treasury got the country's five largest banks to agree to reform their remuneration structures by complying with a code issued by the Financial Services Authority in August. The FSA code, which comes into effect January 1, is broadly inline with remuneration reforms set out at the Group of 20 leaders summit last month.