BELGIAN INSURANCE ACT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15645, 26 June 1914, Page 6

BELGIAN INSURANCE ACT.

A National Insurance Bill has passed tho Belgian Chamber, 83 Ministerialists voting for it., while the Liberals and Socialists present, to the number of 57, abstained from the division in order to decline responsibility for its details and possible results. Broadly, it resembles the British Act in outline, but includes a contributory system of ow-agc pensions as well as sickness and invalidity insurance, the last two, however, being administered by approved societies, the first by a different and State-managed body. The workers' contribution is slightly more than in Great Britain, those of the employers and of the State are less. The Liberals and Socialists put in formal protests, approving tho principle of the Bill, but criticising the application. The Liberals complained that the Bill, which is compulsory on all those whose earnings aro under 2400 francs a year, but applicable under certain reservations to those who earn more, oxcluded too many workers, and gave reduced benefits to the poorest (who pay less). The Socialists objected to the contributory character of the old- , age pension scheme.