The bill establishes workplace sexual harassment as a valid reason for dismissal, following a report by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins.

But Labor has taken aim at the federal government's "half-hearted" response and failure to adopt all of the 55 of the recommendations in full.

"The best you can say about this bill is that it means well feebly," frontbencher Tanya Plibersek, told the ABC on Wednesday.

"It doesn't implement all of the recommendations and those that it does, it doesn't fully implement.

"Where it does act, the bill really acts quite weakly."

The opposition is seeking to amend the bill - which is before the Senate on Wednesday - to require employers to prevent workplace sexual harassment, which is estimated to cost the economy $3.5 billion a year.

If elected, Labor also pledged to spend $24 million to make sure each state and territory had a properly funded Working Women's Centre.

They provide free and confidential advice including about discrimination and harassment.

There are currently three centres across South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory.

"Australian women don't want special treatment, they just want a fair go," Ms Plibersek said.

The government has committed to pushing ahead with most of Ms Jenkins' recommendations, while noting or partially implementing others.

The bill defines sexual harassment as unwelcome and demeaning conduct due to a person's sex that could reasonably be anticipated to offend, humiliate or intimidate.

Workplace sexual harassment is already prohibited under the existing Sex Discrimination Act.

But the proposed amendment concedes this is not well understood.

It also seeks to clarify the extension of sex discrimination laws to parliamentarians, their staff, the judiciary and all levels of government.

The coalition came under intense pressure to act after former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins publicly alleged she had been raped in a minister's office in the lead-up to the 2019 election.

Australian Associated Press