Private hospitals have warned gender pay rises of up to 30 per cent will blow out costs while smaller clinics claim it will lead to job losses, closures and higher client fees in what is emerging as the first industrial test for the newly re-elected Albanese government.

Major private health operators, including Ramsay Healthcare and Healthscope, urged the Fair Work Commission on Monday to phase-in increases for health professionals, ranging from psychologists to physiotherapists, over several years to allow private health insurers and the Commonwealth to cover the cost through extra funding.