A major breakthrough for gender pay in the public sector could set a major precedent for the private sector as well.

Around 55,000 aged care, home support and disability care workers - mostly women - are set to receive a lift in pay to $27 an hour.

The historic pay equity settlement is likely to be the first of many - if it's signed off by Cabinet.

EY employment law leader Christie Hall told Mike Hosking it could also set a precedent for some private sector industries.

"It gives people a mechanism by which they can say 'I think my pay has been unfairly calculated due to gender and I want a pay increase because of that'."

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