If the increase is acceded to, ministers, members of the judiciary, mayors and traditional leaders, among others will all receive a 4% salary increase.
This would take Ramaphosa’s salary from R2,989,845 to R3,109,439 a year.
The commission recommendation is for the 2018-2019 financial year and, if approved, would have to be back paid from April.
These pending increases are expected to put a strain on the already struggling fiscus at a time when government has complained of an unsustainable public-sector wage bill that amounts to more than R587bn.
Cosatu further called for a national strike next February in protest against growing retrenchments and a jobs bloodbath in the country.
The CEC resolved to mobilise for a national strike on February 13, 2019.
The planned action will take place a month after the ANC launches its election campaign for the 2019 elections and is expected to be a thorn in the alliance’s side as it attempts to convince workers to vote for the party.