The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has called for a seven percent raise in award wages to ensure the survival of Australians. ACTU Union Secretary Sally McManus emphasized the need for the minimum and award wage workers to receive the pay raise to keep them financially stable. Workers have suffered a 4.5 to six percent decrease in real wages after inflation, with essential costs like groceries and energy rising by up to eight percent, according to ACTU data. The monthly inflation rate in Australia saw a decrease for the second consecutive month in February, providing some relief to households struggling with rising living costs. The federal government has expressed support for a rise in the minimum wage and is looking to introduce more industrial bills to address wage discrepancies.