E/C.12/1/Add.25 page 7 E. Suggestions and recommendations 55. The Committee recommends that the extent to which the provisions of the Covenant might be given direct applicability within the Netherlands Antilles be reassessed. 56. The Committee recommends that the government intensify its efforts to guarantee effective equality between men and women, particularly with regard to equal access to employment and equal wages for work of equal value. 57. The Committee encourages the government, in addressing the school drop-out problem, to expedite the implementation of its programme for education in the students' mother tongues along with the progressive introduction of Dutch. It also recommends the urgent adoption of a plan of action to move towards the provision of free compulsory primary education as required by article 14 of the Covenant. 58. The Committee urges the government to promulgate legislation for the standardization of minimum wages throughout the islands. 59. The Committee encourages the government to carry out its intention to withdraw its reservation to the Covenant concerning the right to strike. 60. The Committee encourages the governments of all three parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to circulate these concluding observations as widely as possible among all sectors of society. -----