Budget day hearing on penalty rates

The Fair Work Commission has listed its full bench hearing on penalty rates for May 9, the same day as the federal budget is handed down.

The Melbourne hearing has been scheduled to discuss the transitional arrangements to apply to the reduction in Sunday penalty rates in the retail, hospitality and pharmacy sectors.

The Turnbull government has argued it is up to the commission to decide on how best to implement the decision, but Labor and unions say the umpire should scrap the idea.