Labor MPs in NSW should be forced to do a week of work experience in the "real world" in order to rectify "how little they know about everyday life", a key national union leader has suggested.

The call from Bob Nanva, national secretary of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, is in response to the inaugural speech of Kogarah MP Chris Minns which called for reduced union influence within the party.

Mr Minns – a former NSW Labor Right faction assistant secretary – on Tuesday told the NSW Parliament Labor must do more to "represent Australians who are not in a trade union".

"That means taking steps to reduce union control on the floor of our [party] conference and increasing the representation of ordinary members of our party in order to have more diverse voices echoing through the halls of this 124-year-old institution," he said.

"While trade unions are integral to our success and our heritage, this party needs to represent Australians who are not in a trade union."

On Wednesday NSW Labor leader Luke Foley said he agreed with everything Mr Minns had said.

But writing for smh.com.au, Mr Nanva declared it was "concerning when new MPs make embarrassing gaffes that show how little they know about everyday life."

Mr Nanva said Labor "trades on being the representative voice of ordinary working people."

"New NSW Labor Leader Luke Foley could protect his party from accusations of being out of touch by making sure all new MPs do a week of work experience in the real world," he said.

Mr Minns' assertion of the need for more diversity showed he hadn't met many trade union members, Mr Nanva argued.

"If people think that unions are like the NSW Parliament – largely made up of wealthy middle class white men – they are seriously mistaken," he said.

"It is extremely concerning that anyone can be so brutally disconnected with the reality of our modern workforce."

Mr Foley and Mr Minns declined to comment.