Company directors could face higher maximum penalties for serious contraventions of the Corporations Act as the Coalition seeks to rebut constant union criticism that union officials would be subject to higher financial penalties for breaking the law.

In accepting most of the recommendations of the trade union royal commission, Employment Minister Michaelia Cash said on Sunday that a re-elected Coalition would seek to increase the maximum civil penalty that could be imposed on company directors to $216,000, the same amount she wants applied to union officials.