E/C.12/1/Add.57
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33.
The Committee recommends that the State party recognize the economic, social and
cultural rights of indigenous populations as a distinct minority group and ensure more effective
protection against discrimination, especially in the field of employment, health and education.
34.
The Committee also recommends that the State party explicitly take the Covenant into
account in relation to the policies, programmes and projects deriving from its Poverty Reduction
Strategy Paper, which forms part of the enhanced Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative. In
this regard, the State party is referred to the statement on poverty adopted by the Committee
on 4 May 2001.
35.
The Committee urges the State party to conclude its adoption of the Labour Code.
36.
The Committee strongly recommends that the State party implement existing legislative
and administrative measures to avoid violations of environmental and labour laws by
transnational companies.
37.
The Committee urges the State party to increase the number of its labour inspectors, and
to ensure the full exercise of their authority in workplaces.
38.
The Committee strongly urges the State party to adopt and implement legislative and
other measures to protect workers from the occupational health hazards resulting from the use of
toxic substances - such as pesticides and cyanide - in the banana-growing and gold-mining
industries.
39.
The Committee strongly recommends that the State party expand its social security
system to encompass low-income groups and informal sector groups, which are presently
excluded. In addition, the Committee recommends that the State party ratify the relevant
ILO Conventions (Nos. 102, 117 and 118) concerning social security.
40.
The Committee urges the State party to undertake urgent measures to introduce
rehabilitation programmes for street children. The Committee also urges the State party to
address the issue of sexual abuse, exploitation and prostitution of children by adopting a national
plan to combat the problem, including collecting relevant data and conducting a thorough study
of the issue.
41.
The Committee strongly recommends that the State party implement the existing
legislation on domestic violence vigorously, and that police and other law enforcement officials
be given better training to this end.
42.
The Committee recommends that the minimum wage be determined on the basis of
criteria of an adequate standard of living in the State party.
43.
The Committee requests that, in its next periodic report, the State party provide
information on a national housing strategy and on the progress made in providing adequate
housing for all, especially low-income groups, vulnerable and marginalized groups and those