The country's two largest labour federations, COSATU and SAFTU have been at each other's throat and trading barbs in the days leading up to Workers Day as they sharply differ over proposed labour law amendments. The proposed amendments include changes to the Labour Relations Act, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, and the Minimum Wage Act.   COSATU says it  remains confident that the final legislation will continue to protect workers' rights and that such protections will be further extended while SAFTU on the other hand has criticised the amendments claiming that they will put workers under siege and erode workers' hard-won rights guaranteed by the Constitution. 

COSATU has accused SAFTU of peddling of fake news and falsehoods in pursuit of headlines while SAFTU is accusing COSATU of being party to what they call "secret talks at Nedlac" that will betray workers rights.

To find out why they have such divergent views on the proposed labour law amendments Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Mathew Parks - COSATU Parliamentary Co-ordinator and Newton Masuku - SAFTU National Spokesperson