Workers deserve a decent pay rise, the treasurer says, as the industrial umpire prepares to hand down its decision on how much the minimum wage will increase by.
The Fair Work Commission's decision, to be revealed on Tuesday, sets the increase for minimum and award wage scales from July 1.
With the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz exacerbating already high inflation pressures, unions have been pushing the commission for a bumper pay rise to ensure workers don't go backwards.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said while the federal government does not nominate an exact figure for how much wages should increase, workers should still experience a tangible benefit.
"Workers on the minimum wage and on awards need and deserve a decent real wage increase," he told ABC TV on Tuesday.
