There is no categorical opposition to any of the key issues, Vizjak said, adding that the changes to the employment relationships and the labour market acts were "a kind of a balanced compromise of numerous interests" of trade unions and employers.

He noted that the changes to the labour market legislation should be "taken as a package". On the one hand, they include measures to reduce segmentation of the labour market, which is what the unions expected, and on the other, they bring solutions for greater flexibility of the market, which the employers wanted.

The minister said he was aware that neither the unions nor employers were happy with all of the solutions and that they had serious reservations regarding some of them, but everyone should understand that the reforms also brought measures that benefit them.

According to Vizjak, all proposed amendments to the reform were balanced to the "highest possible extent". He said his ministry would send them to the National Assembly on Wednesday and that MPs would not be deciding on any open issues.

The hot-button of the last round of negotiations was the notice periods. The minister said they would not be halved from the current maximum of 120 days, as initially proposed, but that a compromise of 80 days had been agreed on.

The unemployment compensation would not be reduced to 60% of former pay in the third month after job loss, but will stay at 80% of base pay.