Cosatu on Thursday warned that the proposed Protection of Information Bill could stifle efforts to stamp out corruption.

It said the legislation will make it possible for officials to classify sensitive information relating to suspected wrong doing.

Cosatu was part of a panel discussing the bill at the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria on Thursday.

The federation’s Patrick Craven said it opposes the bill, adding there has to be a far narrower definition of what information is secret so it cannot be used to cover up corruption.

“Information would or could be reclassified as confidential secrets or even top secret and therefore it would be impossible for them to blow the whistle without themselves breaking the law,” said Craven

He said the bill also covers the relationship between government and private companies.

“Many allegations are being made that the law is being broken and that tenders are being acquired by corrupt methods and this law will make it more difficult to uncover the evidence."

Cosatu will be among others opposing the bill at public hearings in Parliament next week.