Australia’s minimum wage should be raised by 5% to counter inflation and living costs, unions say

Unions have called for Australia’s minimum wage to be increased to $21.35 an hour to boost the income of those who rely on the annual wage review for a pay rise. Photograph: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Australia’s lowest-paid workers should get a 5% pay rise – or $2,000 more a year, according to a submission from unions to the industrial umpire.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions has called for the minimum wage to increase from $20.33 an hour to $21.35, to boost the wages of 2.67m employees who rely on the annual wage review for a pay rise.