Laws aimed at getting wages moving are coming to a head with the government pledging to put upward pressure on pay packets as soon as possible.
Trade Minister Don Farrell said workers would be in a much better position when new workplace laws pass, which would give them a chance to catch up with the rising costs of living.
The new laws, which could pass on Thursday, include multi-employer bargaining and give employees more power to negotiate flexible work hours.
Senator Farrell also reflected on his start at the shops union in the mid-1970s, when there were different rates of pay for men and women for the same role.
He said Labor is now seeking to address female-dominated industries being lower-paid.
"There are industries where women predominate that if they were fairly valued would have a higher rate of pay," he told parliament on Wednesday.
Parents will also be able to seek recourse through the Fair Work Commission if their employer refuses their request for unpaid parental leave, after government negotiations with the Greens.
Leader Adam Bandt said secured amendments will help tip the balance back towards workers.
"Workers' rights have been eroded after decades of governments catering to their massive corporate donors," he said.
The coalition is trying to delay the bill by pushing for more time to review the changes and is continuing to call on the government to strip out multi-employer bargaining, saying it will lead to job losses and strikes.
Small businesses with fewer than 20 employees will be excluded from single-interest multi-enterprise bargaining.
Businesses with fewer than 50 employees will have extra safeguards if they want to opt out of multi-employer bargaining.
The coalition has also attacked the government for abolishing the construction watchdog.
The Senate debate will go late into Wednesday night and the bill will likely come to a vote on Thursday, although it may be pushed out until Friday.
But it's destined to pass this week after the government secured the support of the Greens and independent senator David Pocock.
Independent senator Jacqui Lambie criticised the government for rushing the bill through by the end of the year.
"I've got issues with it, mostly around the multi-employer bargaining because we just don't know how it'll impact small to medium businesses," she said.
"We haven't had the time to consult, listen and understand the real world impacts."
The unions are urging the bill to be passed as soon as possible despite business lobby groups fearing multi-employer bargaining will lead to more industrial action and penalise firms.
A union-backed poll by RedBridge shows that almost two-thirds of Australians back the planned overhaul of workplace laws.
Around 60 per cent of people surveyed believe that workers should have better rights to negotiate pay rises, including access to multi-employer agreements across similar workplaces.
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