Spanish labor unions and the Ministry of Public Works reached agreement over the minimum services to be provided during the general strike to be held on March 29.

Following a meeting lasting over 10 hours, the two sides finally reached an accord in the early hours of Saturday morning, local media reported.

The result is that the minimum services to be provided will be similar to those in the last general strike in September 2010, except there will be five percent more local trains in operation than a year and a half ago and the minimum services for airlines will depend on the distance and duration of the flights.

A 35-percent service will run on local trains, although there will only be a 20-percent service on long-distance and high-speed AVE trains with no regional trains running.

As regards air transport, a 10-percent service has been agreed for internal flights in Spain, although there will be a 50-percent service to the Canary and Balearic Islands. 20 percent of flights to European destinations will operate, while 40 percent of flights to other international destinations will operate.

A 25-percent service will operate for buses, while the ferry service between Spain and destinations such as Mallorca, the Canary Islands and the enclave of Melilla will be at least 50 percent.

Thursday's general strike, is the first to be held during the government of Mariano Rajoy, who was elected to power in November last year.

The strike is in protest at the labor reforms introduced by Rajoy's government in February this year which makes it much easier for companies to sack workers and pay them less compensation for losing their jobs.