Shorten would back penalty rates verdict

Labor will accept any Fair Work Commission ruling to reduce the penalty rates of retail and hospitality workers.

The commission could hand down a decision before the July 2 election, making it a hot-button campaign issue.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten doesn't agree with cutting Sunday penalty rates, but when asked on 3AW radio on Thursday whether he would respect the commission's outcome if he became prime minister he said: "Yes."