Shorten backs worker education leave

Bill Shorten has defended the idea of companies funding paid education leave for workers to learn about their workplace rights.

The Labor leader and former Australian Workers Union secretary was asked about the leave - which the AWU had raised in enterprise negotiations with companies - at the unions royal commission in Sydney on Wednesday.

"The future of workplace relations is all about having a better educated and skilled workforce and management ... and one concept was paid education leave," Mr Shorten said.