Council legal adviser Dr Essam Al Banzargachi told councillors at their weekly session that articles from the original law presented by the government, the amendments from parliament and their own amendments lacked cohesiveness.

He said that since the council had accepted numerous articles amended by parliament, it should abide to them in other articles, or else links would be broken.

"We can't have an employee given a warning before being sacked as amended by parliament and then in the following articles we allow employers to sack them immediately as councillors have voted," said Dr Al Banzargachi.

Councillors had also agreed to allow employers to terminate contracts of employees whenever the company is shut down completely or partially, or sees reductions in activity or production.

They agreed yesterday to remove any mention of compensation by emitting an article that would have employees compensated for the damages such a decision would have on their income.

The council insisted to have employees compensated according to the remaining period of their contracts or as agreed with the employer, throwing away a recommendation by the services committee on the need of having both articles.

This means that other changes in many articles would have to be carried by the services committee, before being presented next week for a final vote.

The law will be referred to parliament's services committee, which will study the new changes, before deciding to go along with the council or reject them.