Talks aimed at securing a new national pay deal are to resume at Government Buildings today.
Social partners are meeting for the third day this week and will be attempting to secure a new deal before Friday's deadline.
Today's crunch talks are expected to concentrate on non-pay issues such as collective bargaining rights.
IBEC's Turlough O'Sullivan has said if a deal is to be reached, workers in the public sector must be willing to take pay moderation.
"We all know that the public sector is paid much more than the private sector," he said.
"People in well-paid secure employment, I believe it is not asking too much of them to take pay moderation in return for that security of employment."