Unions are not convinced by Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman’s push to limit politicians' pay rises.

The Industrial Commission has recommended MPs get a pay rise of 10.5 per cent this year, but Mr Hodgman says he wants pay rises for the state's 40 MPs to be in line with the public and private sector workers' wages, which this year is about 2.4 per cent.

Mr Hodgman says the larger increase would damage negotiations for future public sector wage agreements.

But instead of sending the matter back for the commission to reconsider, as current legislation requires, the Government may take it out of the independent body's hands entirely.

Rather, Premier Will Hodgman wants to link future increases to the Wage Price Index — a figure that combines public and private sector wages.

“If you apply the index, currently you'd be talking more about a 2.4 per cent, which I believe is more in line with community expectations,” he said.

“It's certainly more affordable against a budget that is still constrained.”

Mr Hodgman has outlined the plan to Legislative Council chief Jim Wilkinson.

The bigger pay rise recommended by the commission could still flow to state's MPs if the Legislative Council did not disallow it and supports the Government's alternative proposal.

Upper House members have argued strongly in favour of leaving the decision to the independent arbiter.

Community and Public Sector Union secretary Tom Lynch says the Government is playing politics.

“They're trying to paint a picture that they're being resistant to the wage increase, when at the end of the day it likely that they will get this 10.5 per cent increase,” Mr Lynch said.

He said public servants would not see the same deal as politicians.

“There are a lot of issues that in the Tasmanian public sector that are higher up the list than wages,” he said.

“Tasmanians are missing out on services that they need.

“We want to find ways to run the public sector as efficiently as possible, to ensure that people's skills are being properly used, that there are career paths open and available to them, that people are being trained.”

Independent MLC Tony Mulder said the commission's call seemed “responsible”, slamming the State Government for interfering.

“They are in desperate race to the bottom to try to prove that we should be paid whatever the community expects us to be paid,” Mr Mulder told the ABC.

“I think many people share my position and that is, we must respect the umpire's decision, we must learn to live by the rules.”

Debate on the proposed legislation in State Parliament is scheduled for today.