Almost two-thirds of voters believe increasing the minimum wage will create jobs, a new poll has found.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions-commissioned poll of more than 1500 people was done shortly before Friday's Fair Work Commission annual ruling on the national minimum wage.
The commission boosted pay for Australia's lowest-paid workers by 3.5 per cent to $719.20 a week, or $18.93 an hour.
The poll found 64.2 per cent of those polled supported the idea that expanding the minimum wage would increase the amount people have to spend, creating demand and jobs.
Almost 36 per cent of voters agreed a minimum wage rise would increase costs for small business, costing jobs.
The ACTU had been calling for a $50 rise, while employers were arguing for a $13 a week increase for more than 2.3 million Australians.
ACTU secretary Sally McManus said big business had too much power and wanted to cut wages to make themselves richer.
"Pay rises supercharge our economy and help us get to where we need to be," Ms McManus said.
"They're good for working people, for local businesses and for our country."
She noted workers would be hit by further cuts to penalty rates on July 1, accusing Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of doing the bidding of big business.
"Double the size of last year's cuts, these are the harshest yet," Ms McManus said.
