Thousands of low paid workers would lose their jobs if the minimum wage rose by a fifth after independence, Business Secretary Vince Cable has suggested.
On a visit to Scotland the Liberal Democrat cabinet minister also accused the SNP of attempting to politicise the issue.
Earlier this week Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon signalled that the minimum wage could rise by £1.34 an hour if there was a Yes vote in September.
Around 63,000 Scots would see their pay increase from £6.31 per hour to £7.65.
During an interview after a visit to the Weir Group in Glasgow, Mr Cable accused the SNP of introducing politics into the issue.
He said: "The key point is that the success of the minimum wage policy is that it is not politically driven. The danger of having a minimum wage set politically is that populism has negative consequences.
"What would happen is that significant numbers of people in low-paid employment would lose their jobs and that is not something that we want to see."
He added: "What we have successfully done is establish an independent body (in charge of the minimum wage) which successive governments have respected.
"Now politicians can say that the minimum wage should be £7 or £8 and they may get a round of applause in the short-term.
"But if you think through the implications for employment, that is where it is important to maintain respect for the independent body."
The recommendation to raise the minimum wage came from the Scottish Government's expert working group on welfare. The SNP has pledged to consider the proposals.
Mr Sturgeon said that a Yes vote in September would allow Scottish ministers to create a welfare system that was "fairer and works for all." The STUC have welcomed the proposals.
But Labour accused the SNP of making "cynical" uncosted promises to people most in need.
During his visit Mr Cable also insisted that the coalition government was pulling the focus of business away from London.
The SNP had seized on a leaked draft of his comments in which he appeared to suggest the city was a drag.
Mr Cable also suggested that Scots would have lower living standards under independence, because the economy would not improve as much as it would as part of the UK.
And he defended contacts between Lib Dem and Labour MPs as "totally sensible" following speculation over future coalition talks.
A spokesman for Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney said: "Vince Cable's scaremongering lacks all credibility, and the reality is that independence will allow us to create more jobs, better jobs and greater opportunity for everyone in Scotland."
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