The cabinet’s approval of the draft EPZ Labour Law 2016 enhancing workers’ right of association in export processing zones is a boost for calls on the United States to restore GSP trade privileges...It is significant that the government has indicated its intention that the new law should help EPZs in Bangladesh comply with ILO conventions on freedom of association. Such compliance has been stated by the US to be a pre-requisite for it to restore GSP for Bangladeshi exporters....Although the draft does not lift the prohibition on EPZ trade unions contained in the Bangladesh EPZ Act 2010, officials have expressly stated it is intended to help meet the demands of workers’ rights groups....While this shows the government is actively listening to concerns expressed by workers groups, it still leaves workers’ associations lacking the same legal status as unions.