Currently, around 250,000 Australians miss out on around $75 million in superannuation due to the SG threshold, according to ASFA, particularly women who tend to work in casual or part-time jobs, often for more than one employer at a time.

ASFA said its removal will provide a substantial boost to the retirement savings of women.

The association also argued that applying the SG to all substantive income replacement payments, including paid parental leave, could add thousands of dollars to the super accounts of women.

“Even just six months of SG applied to the paid parental leave of a 35-year-old woman earning $50,000 could add an extra $10,000 to her final super balance,” said ASFA.

The association has also addressed the need for the Anti-Discrimination Act to be amended in order to allow employers to pay their female employees more superannuation without being in breach of the legislation.

ASFA chief executive Pauline Vamos said women currently retire with around half as much as men in their superannuation account, leaving them drastically short of the savings required to live a comfortable retirement.

“Many women face challenges when it comes to accumulating adequate retirement savings: they are often in lower paid jobs, or work casually or part time, and they often take more time out of the workforce than men to look after children or family members,” said Ms Vamos.

“This makes it hard for them to build up the savings required to live with comfort and dignity in retirement."