New workers entering the aged care industry must have a police check from today and later this year existing employees will follow suit.

The changes are being made as part of a crackdown on abuse in aged care homes.

The Federal Parliament is also considering other changes and a Senate inquiry will be held today on the issue in Canberra.

Unions are worried some aged care providers will make their employees pay for the cost of a police check and Labor's Jan McLucas says it needs to be clarified.

"There should have been a far more active involvement by the Government in the discussion around who should pay," she said.

"[Because] $40 is four hours' work for some aged care workers and really to ask aged care workers to carry that load by themselves I think is unfair.

"As I said though, some employers are offering to pay for the police check to be undertaken and that should be recognised."