E/C.12/1/Add.37 page 3 15. The Committee regrets that there is no legal prohibition of dismissal from employment on grounds of pregnancy. 16. The Committee takes note of the comments of the Committee of Experts of the International Labour Organization on limitations to the right to strike in Bulgaria, in particular concerning paragraph 11 (2) of the law of 1990 on collective labour disputes regarding the conditions for voting to exercise the right to strike in companies, and paragraph 16 (4) of the same law prohibiting the right to strike of workers in the health services, energy production and communications system sectors. 17. The Committee regrets that the State party has not accorded sufficient attention to the well-being of older persons, nor has it made an effort to guarantee to them a dignified life. 18. The Committee deplores the deterioration of the housing situation in Bulgaria and regrets that only ineffective measures have been taken by the State party to alleviate overcrowding and the generally poor condition of the housing that is available. 19. The Committee regrets the lack of opportunities for minorities to receive education in their own languages. 20. The Committee is also concerned about the low wages of teachers in Bulgaria. 21. The Committee is concerned that the fees introduced in higher education may represent a serious obstacle for disadvantaged groups of society seeking such an education. E. Suggestions and recommendations 22. The Committee recommends that the State party seek the technical cooperation and assistance of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights with a view to establishing a national human rights institution in conformity with the 1991 Principles relating to the status and functioning of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (“the Paris Principles”). 23. While the State party has to strike a balance between reforming the economy and safeguarding the rights enshrined in the Covenant, the obligations arising therefrom require that an adequate standard of living for all citizens, and in particular the most vulnerable groups, must be assured. The Committee refers to its General Comment No. 12 (1999) in this regard. 24. The Committee recommends that the State party evaluate the economic reform programmes with respect to their impact on poverty, and make efforts to adjust these programmes in such a way that they adequately respond to the current social needs of the population. The Committee recommends that in negotiations with international financial institutions, the State party take into account its obligations to respect, protect and fulfil all the rights enshrined in the Covenant.