Labor takes fresh look at workplace laws

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has asked the Labor caucus to start work on a new industrial relations policy.

The call for a task force, to be headed by Victorian MP Lisa Chesters, came during the caucus meeting in Canberra on Tuesday.

The caucus has not had a stand-alone industrial relations committee since the last term of the Howard government when unions and Labor were campaigning against Work Choices.

Since then the economic policy committee has been overseeing the issue.

The task force is expected to travel around the country taking submissions from unions, the community sector and business groups.

Pensions will also be on Labor's radar in the lead-up to the May 12 budget.

Mr Shorten told the caucus meeting that over the next few weeks Labor MPs needed to campaign strongly on Prime Minister Tony Abbott seeking to cut pensions.

Campaign materials have been produced using the theme "Mr Abbott - Don't Pocket our Pension".