Talks on a national pay agreement are to resume this afternoon after talks between employers' unions and the Government broke up last night without a deal.
There had been hopes that a deal on pay could be concluded over the weekend, but little progress was made.
After talks on the pay aspects of a new partnership deal were adjourned last night, a small group of key negotiators remained to continue talks on employment standards.
Among the steps provisionally agreed were the appointment of 60 additional labour inspectors - to bring the total to 90 - and a dramatic increase in penalties for breaches of employment law.
Agreement was also reached on new legislation to deter employers from making workers redundant for the purpose of replacing them with cheaper labour.