The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is calling on the federal government to increase the minimum wage for low paid workers by five percent to help them keep up with rising living costs. In its submission to the Fair Work Commission (FWC), the ACTU requested that the minimum hourly rate be raised to $21.35 (US$15.99), pushing the full-year wage up to $42,183.96 (US$31.597.05). It also said that a quarter of the Australian workforce, or 2.67 million workers, depends on the annual wage review for pay rises. ACTU Secretary Sally McManus said that the government should approve the five percent increase so that workers could stay ahead of increasing inflation and costs of living. “We are calling on (Prime Minister) Scott Morrison to support the workers of Australia and back this pay increase,” she said in a statement. “If this government is serious about addressing the cost of living pressures, it starts with wage growth.” …