This Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) report shows Australia is at risk of becoming an Americanised society of working poor if people are not given a pay rise.

Rising inequality is forcing working people into poverty, with the number of workers who are now on minimum or award wages rocketing a staggering 8% in six years to 2016.

Key stats from report:

• Inequality is greater than at any time in the last 70 years;
• Income inequality is bad but wealth inequality is worse. The top ten richest Australians have over $77 billion dollars between them;
• Number of workers on minimum award rates has shot up in the last few years - from 15.2% in 2010 to 23.9% in 2016;
• Workers share of national income is at its lowest level in over 50 years.