E/C.12/1/Add.57 page 3 15. The Committee is concerned about the lack of legislative and administrative measures by the State party to control the negative effects of transnational companies’ activities on the employment and working conditions of Honduran workers and to ensure compliance with national labour legislation. Examples of such negative impacts are the low level of wages and the substandard working conditions in the maquilas (assembly plants), in particular those employing primarily women workers. 16. The Committee is particularly concerned about the very low number of labour inspectors and their inability to fulfil their responsibilities adequately due to reported restrictions that limit their access to enterprises and other work places subject to inspection. 17. The Committee expresses its grave concern about the fact that the minimum wage of workers is insufficient to provide for an adequate standard of living in the State party. 18. The Committee is also concerned about the insufficient level of protection by the State party to trade unions seeking to conduct labour negotiations with foreign employers, particularly given the large number of workers in unions. In addition, the Committee deeply regrets that the law prohibits the presence of more than one trade union in a single enterprise. 19. The Committee expresses its concern about the fact that the social security system covers less than one third of the population, especially as it excludes the groups in society with no income at all. In this regard, the Committee is concerned about the fact that the State party has not ratified the relevant International Labour Organization Conventions concerning social security (Nos. 102, 117 and 118). 20. The Committee is alarmed about the high number of children who are forced to work to support themselves, and in particular about the serious situation of street children and the existence of street gangs (maras). In this regard, the Committee is also gravely concerned about the high incidence of sexual abuse, exploitation and prostitution of children in the State party, and about the lack of a national plan to address these issues. 21. The Committee expresses its concern about the extent of domestic violence and the apparent inability of the State party to implement legislation against this phenomenon, particularly due to the lack of appropriate training of police and other law enforcement officials. 22. The Committee regrets the lack of a national housing strategy, given damage caused to the infrastructural situation by hurricane Mitch. 23. The Committee is concerned about the occurrence of forced evictions, especially among peasants and indigenous populations and in the areas where mining activities are conducted, without adequate compensation or appropriate relocation measures. 24. The Committee is particularly concerned about the extremely negative effects of the use of pollutants and toxic substances in specific agricultural and industrial sectors, such as banana