The Fair Work Ombudsman is prosecuting a Canberra caravan business for sacking a worker who took leave to care for his dying mum.

The ombudsman alleges RFJCO, which operates a business trading as Jayco Canberra, sacked a full-time repair and maintenance worker last year because he took paid carers and annual leave around the time of his mother's death.

The case will be heard in the Federal Magistrates Court in Sydney later this month.

The company's lawyer says his clients intend to plead guilty to what he calls a technical breach, but insists they have not acted unfairly.

Federal Employment Minister Bill Shorten says the case highlights the need for strong workplace laws.

"There will be two sides to every story in this particular matter but the Fair Work Ombudsman feels sufficiently strongly to take the matter to court," he said.

"People shouldn't assume that problems don't occur in the work place and that sometimes you need to have regulation to protect people."