- 43 - 185. The Committee is concerned to note that the rule of law appears to have completely broken down in the Uraba region, and in particular that the State no longer ensures the provision for the community of the most basic social, educational and health services. 186. The Committee expresses concern about the extensive discrimination against women. For example, it is noted that the wages of women are on average 30 per cent lower than those of men. 187. The Committee notes with concern the drop in the real value of wages. According to a report of the Defensoría del Pueblo, in March 1995, 23.8 per cent of the active population, in the seven principal towns of the country, received the minimum legal wage (approximately US$ 135) and 64.2 per cent received less than twice the minimum legal wage. Thus some 75 per cent of workers cannot afford to fill the "family basket", which costs two and a half times the minimum legal wage. 188. The Committee is seriously concerned about the violation of the right of many workers to form and join trade unions and to participate in collective bargaining and strike action. The Committee considers that the restrictions placed by law on the right to strike are far too extensive and cannot be justified by reasons of national security or public order. It regrets that the present tripartite commission for trade union development does not have a mandate to consider these grave matters. 189. The Committee is concerned at the high rate of child labour, particularly in arduous and unhealthy occupations (such as brick making and mining), and at the insufficient action taken by the Government to combat this practice. 190. The Committee notes that the implementation and monitoring of health and safety measures in the workplace have not reached the desirable level, due, inter alia, to the insufficient number of labour inspectors. 191. The Committee notes with concern that in housing, amounting to 3.7 million units, precarious conditions in housing which does of adequate housing under article 11 of the Committee. there is a considerable shortfall and that many inhabitants live in not correspond to the definition Covenant and as detailed by the 192. The Committee notes that, despite a series of governmental initiatives, effective access to education is limited in Colombia. The Committee is particularly concerned that universal primary education, as provided for in the Covenant, is not yet attained. It is also concerned about the decline in the quality of secondary education and about the work situation of teachers. E. Suggestions and recommendations 193. The Committee recommends that the Government, through its economic development programmes and a modification of the tax and fiscal system, now under consideration, address the problem of the inequitable distribution of wealth, with the object of effectively combatting the poverty that characterizes the country. The Committee also recommends concerted efforts to improve the efficiency of Colombia’s economic and social development programmes.