Bill Shorten uses Women's Day to protect penalty rates

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has used International Women's Day to bolster his case for protecting penalty rates.

Mr Shorten said women were more likely to be working in retail and hospitality jobs affected by the Fair Work Commission decision to cut Sunday penalty rates.

"If Malcolm Turnbull wants to do one good thing for women on International Women's Day, he will join with Labor and stop the penalty cuts right now," Mr Shorten said.

Mr Shorten said cutting penalty rates will widen the pay gap, which is currently at 20 percent between men and woman.

"Malcolm Turnbull loves to quote that women hold up half the sky, but women are not getting half the way in Australia," he said.

"This will be the thin edge of the wedge for other women who rely upon penalty rates."

The Prime Minister’s Office said Mr Turnbull deliberately stayed away from playing politics today, but did point out the Fair Work Commission found women would be no more disadvantaged by penalty rate cuts than men.