At a view-exchange meeting at Dhaka Reporters' Unity auditorium, she said a total of 80 percent workers would be deprived of its benefit as agricultural and domestic workers have been kept out of its purview.

"As per the new law, working hour in factories will be 10 hours which go against the ILO rules.

Besides, the workers' right to organise trade union and bargain for salary and other facilities have been curtailed," said Shirin.

She demanded immediate cancellation of the provisions that go against the interest of the workers.

While presenting the theme paper Director Alok Sarkar said the law did not bring any change in the fixation of minimum wage, working hours, leave and other holidays.

"No basic changes have been made in the law to solve its implementation problem, " he added.

For instance, the maternity leave has been extended to 16 weeks from 12 weeks, but the way it has been fixed before and after giving birth to a child, it would not let the female workers to enjoy the leave according to their needs, he said.

Besides, the amount of compensation fixed for the workers in the law is not time-worthy and it should be re-fixed at Tk 3-5 lakh.

The speakers said the law gives waiver in some situations which make it flawed and would be a tool for the owners to repress the workers.

They said any indecent behaviour towards the female workers by their male colleagues would be punishable, but for this three months' imprisonment or payment of Tk 1000 in fine is too little to resist such actions.

Member of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour Law Affairs Shajahan Khan MP, President of Jatiya Sramik Federation Shafikur Rahman Majumder, Senior Advocate of Labour Court Syed Azadul Haque, Director of KN Mahmuda Imam, Executive Director Rokeya Rafik Baby and Sultanuddin Ahmed of Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies were also present on the occasion.