Treasurer Jim Chalmers has fought back against an employer push to use the budget’s cost-of-living relief to lower this year’s minimum wage increase, stressing that the relief should be on top of, not instead of, a “decent” pay rise.

The comments come as unions double down on their bid for a 9 per cent wage increase for female-dominated sectors this year by pointing to unspecified budget commitments to fund pay rises in childcare.