E/C.12/1/Add.94 page 3 13. The Committee notes the statement of the State party’s delegation that any former citizen of the Soviet Union living in the country can exchange their old Soviet passports for new Russian Federation ones without any difficulty. However, the Committee is concerned about reports that registration and recognition of citizenship have been denied to some groups, particularly the Mesketians living in Krasnodar Krai. 14. The Committee remains concerned about gender inequality in the State party, particularly with regard to discrimination in employment, in the family and in political representation. 15. The Committee remains concerned about the relatively high rates of unemployment in the State party, particularly among young people, women, people of pre-pensionable age and persons with disabilities. It also notes with concern the significant regional disparities, with unemployment rates ranging from 32.4 to 56.5 per cent in the nine worst affected regions. 16. The Committee notes with concern that the employment of persons with disabilities has significantly decreased in recent years. The Committee regrets that two important tax benefits, which served as incentives for hiring persons with disabilities and which were commended by the Committee in its previous concluding observations, have been removed. 17. The Committee notes with concern that the informal economy in the State party has grown considerably and that illegal migration of labour is widespread, which means that a large number of people work without legal and social protection. 18. The Committee remains concerned about the low level of wages in the State party, with an estimated 32.8 per cent of workers earning wages equal to or below the subsistence level. The Committee notes that the situation is aggravated by the persistent problem of wage arrears. The low level of the minimum wage is also a cause of concern since it remains well below the minimum subsistence level and is inadequate to provide workers with a decent living for themselves and their families (articles 7 and 11 of the Covenant). 19. The Committee remains concerned about the high incidence of serious accidents in the workplace in the State party. 20. The Committee is concerned about the difference in wages between men and women as well as about working conditions for women. It is also concerned about sexual harassment of women in the workplace. 21. The Committee is concerned that the Labour Code may impose undue restrictions on the right to strike, by requiring a quorum of two thirds of the total number of workers and the agreement of at least half of the workers present at the meeting to call a strike. 22. The Committee remains concerned about the inadequate amounts paid in pensions and social benefits, while noting that the problem of arrears has been addressed. 23. The Committee is very concerned about the high incidence of trafficking in persons in the State party and about the lack of reliable statistics on the number of people trafficked and of information on cases where persons have been prosecuted under existing anti-trafficking legislation.