Vote for union watchdog, Pyne tells Labor

The federal government will maintain pressure on Labor leader Bill Shorten over his trade union days with a parliamentary vote on its plan for a unions watchdog.

Cabinet minister Christopher Pyne told Sky News on Monday that if Mr Shorten was really opposed to "dodgy" union leaders and corruption he should support the registered organisations legislation, a bill Labor has voted against twice.

The government will bring on a vote in the lower house this week, before a Senate committee reports on the legislation in August.