Labor stands by penalty rate reversal plan

Labor has signalled it will stand by plans to reverse cuts to penalty rates.

The federal opposition has vowed to wipe clean its entire policy platform after losing the election, but is clearly not for turning on its blueprint for boosting wages.

Ahead of polling day, Labor promised to reverse the Fair Work Commission's reduction of penalty rates in the retail, hospitality, fast-food and pharmacy industries.

The party also pledged to introduce change to prevent further cuts.

Labor's industrial relations spokesman Brendan O'Connor on Thursday indicated the policy would not be thrown onto the scrap heap.

"I think, to be very clear, Labor will be very concerned about that ongoing problem for those workers and other workers it may apply to in the future," he told reporters in Canberra.

"We will not abandon workers. We will not abandon the plan to lift wages in this country. We will review our policies but you can be assured of this - we stand by working people."

Mr O'Connor has welcomed the Fair Work Commission's decision to lift minimum wages by three per cent.

But he warned hundreds of thousands of low-paid workers would see the increase "eaten up" by a further round of penalty rate cuts in July.