The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) will step up its campaign to lift the superannuation guarantee (SG) levy from nine to 15 per cent.

The association won't push for a compulsory lift in the SG levy but will instead lobby the government to implement a nationwide soft compulsion scheme.

"Increasing the SG levy is a big issue for us. We will ensure, however, that this does not mean an extra burden for business," ASFA deputy chief executive Brad Pragnell told InvestorDaily.

Soft compulsion allows people to opt in and out of their voluntary superannuation contributions.

Research from ASFA found nearly nine out of 10 Australians surveyed supported soft compulsion as a painless and flexible way to boost their super.

Pragnell said countries such as the United Kingdom had a similar successful scheme in place including New Zealand through its KiwiSaver program.

A quarter of a million New Zealanders signed up with KiwiSaver since the first four months of its implementation.

Australian firms have also achieved success with soft compulsion. 

The Tasmanian-based Retirement Benefits Fund encouraged a third of its new members to plough extra money into their superannuation fund.

Corporate superannuation fund Hastings Deering had 85 per cent of its workforce volunteering an extra five per cent to their superannuation.

"Soft compulsion is really effective with people under the age of 40 who really do need to save for their retirement," Pragnell said.