Labour federation Cosatu has criticized the three percent salary increase for public office bearers as a slap in the face.

Cosatu’s General Secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali says when the report was initially recommended to President Cyril Ramaphosa, Cosatu had raised concerns that front line workers didn’t even get an increase, nor was the wage agreement honoured.

It comes as President Ramaphosa gave the go-ahead for the three-percent salary increase which will apply to ministers and their deputies, members of parliament and their provincial counterparts.