Minimum wage hike not enough: NSW unions

Lifting the national minimum wage by $15.80 per week is a lost opportunity to tackle growing inequality, Unions NSW secretary Mark Morey says.

The increase falls far below the $30 per week rise the ACTU wanted, but well above the $7.90 to $10.50 rise business groups had lobbied for.

"While headline inflation may be modest, the rising cost of housing and overall pressure on wages and workplace conditions makes an increase of $15.80 too low," Mr Morey said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Unions are especially conscious that if a coalition government is returned, it will feel pressure from the business lobby to eat away at hard won conditions such as weekend penalty rates."