Unions have pushed back against big business calls to delay an increase in Australia's minimum wage.
Major employer groups have argued any rise in the national minimum wage should not take effect on July 1, in line with a delayed increase at the height of the pandemic.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions has made a reply submission to the Fair Work Commission's panel deliberating on the rate.
ACTU president Michele O'Neil said putting more money in workers' pockets would help drive pandemic recovery.
"The arguments being made by the big business lobby as part of this process are disingenuous and disappointing but not surprising," she said.
"They have consistently put the narrow short-term interests of their members - huge corporations who have expanded their profits during a recession - ahead of the national interest and even ahead of public safety."
The Australian Industry Group has warned the last increase was paid by many employers at the start of February, labelling a five-month gap between another rise as "extremely unfair".
The ACTU is urging the Fair Work Commission to approve a $26-a-week increase.
The national minimum wage increased by 1.75 per cent to $753.80 per week after last year's review but the rise was delayed at least three months for most workers.
In 2019, there was a three per cent minimum wage increase, which was lower than the previous year's 3.5 per cent rise and the 3.3 per cent hike in 2017.
Other industry groups including agriculture, hospitality and retail have backed freezing the rate or delaying the increase.
