'Sustainable': push to keep low-paid from falling back

Low-paid workers should get an "economically sustainable real wage increase", the government says. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)

Treasurer Jim Chalmers wants to ensure Australia's lowest paid workers don't go backwards, but stresses a real wage rise must not harm the economy.

In its formal submission to the Fair Work Commission's annual review of minimum and award wages, the federal Labor government said those workers should receive an "economically sustainable real wage increase".