E/C.12/1/Add.25 page 3 12. The Committee is concerned by continuing discrimination against women at work. Their higher rate of unemployment, their lower position on the wage scale and their disproportionate representation in part-time work reveal that the principle of equality established by the law is not effectively enforced. 13. Racial discrimination can also be seen to exist in labour matters, contributing to some extent to unemployment among immigrants. 14. A third group which suffers from discrimination in the labour market is persons 55 to 65 years of age, whose unemployment rate is over 50 per cent. 15. The Committee expresses its concern at the permissive nature of labour legislation with regard to overtime, the excessive use of which may give rise to a decline in the creation of further jobs. 16. The Committee expresses its concern that the reform of the social security system may have certain adverse consequences for the most underprivileged sectors of society. 17. The Committee regrets that the statistical data on women and child abuse have not been analysed and used to address these problems. The Committee also regrets that information on child prostitution has prevented both the Committee from appreciating the extent of this problem. violence against formulate measures to the lack of Government and the 18. The Committee views with concern the living conditions of asylum seekers in some reception centres in the country. 19. The Committee wishes to express its concern at the consequences of the Tuition Fees Act which has led to a constant increase in the cost of education. Such increases are contrary to the principle of equality of opportunities between the children of rich families and children of poor families. 20. The Committee wishes to express its concern at the statement by the State party that the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is not responsible for the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights in Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles, given that Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles are equal parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Government of the Netherlands contributes every year 1.5 per cent of GNP to Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles. E. Suggestions and recommendations 21. The Committee recommends that the Government reassess the extent to which the provisions of the Covenant might be given direct applicability within the Kingdom. 22. The Committee recommends that the Government intensify its efforts to guarantee men and women equal access to employment and equal wages for work of equal value.