Workers who have 41 years of service but are not 67 yet could get full pensions without penalisation as of next year, he told RTL television.
The new labour act expected to go into force on January 1 will protect workers as much as possible, while enabling employers to restructure their companies more easily, said the minister.
The bill simplifies the layoff procedure, so a worker can be fired for not agreeing to a lower salary, and gives employers the possibility to introduce more flexible working hours of up to 60 hours a week.
On the other hand, workers could go on strike even if their salaries are one day late.
The bill also envisages a new labour inspection and the establishment of a severance fund into which employers would pay part of the salary contributions.
Commenting on unions' unhappiness with the announced changes, Mrsic said the current labour act was not an obstacle to layoffs either. He also announced speedier proceedings at labour courts to better protect workers' rights.
Parliament is expected to discuss the new labour act in October and in the meantime its sponsors will try to reach an agreement with unions and employers, Mrsic said, adding that if no agreement was reached, the bill would nonetheless be sent to parliament.
The transitional period for increasing the years of service to 67 years of age would run from 2020 to 2031.