TUNIS, (Reuters) – The Tunisian employment minister Nassreddine NSibi declared Monday that the government will implement any agreements reached with the powerful UGTT union in Tunisia. These include the implementation of the minimum wage.

Tunisia resumed last week talks with International Monetary Fund regarding a loan package. The deal was contingent on Tunis taking unpopular and painful steps towards liberalising its economy.

International donors also stressed the importance of broad support for Tunisia’s reforms to tackle waste and corruption. The government will likely need to secure the IMF deal the backing the UGTT. This group represents over 1 million people and has a lot of political clout.

Prime Minister Najla Bouden met Monday with Noureddine taboubi (head of the UGTT) and other union officials in order to talk about the current situation.

There is an agreement between the government and the people that they will enforce previous agreements. This includes the minimum wage. Nsibi stated that the details will be revealed soon during a news conference at government palace.

Taboubi claimed that Taboubi had met with the government for the first time and that they were positive about the possibility of a second meeting. He also stated that agreements will soon be reached.

Last year, the government approved a plan that would increase the salaries of approximately 700,000.

Tunisia was urged by the IMF to reduce its subsidies and its large public sector wages bill. However, it also needed to privatize state-owned companies that are losing money.

The government is facing additional problems when the UGTT rejected last week the idea to cut subsidies. This will make it more difficult to negotiate a deal to pay the IMF.