SOCIAL INSURANCE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17608, 26 October 1931, Page 5

SOCIAL INSURANCE

LESS POPULAR IN FRANCE WORKERS REBEL PARIS, Sept. 19. The newest development in French social legislation, the compulsory social insurance for all workers whose annual salary does not exceed £l7O, is meeting with growing unpopularity and there is a movement, outside of party lines, lor the repeal of this legislation. Theoretically the scheme sounded ideal to the political groups of the left and they forced its passage through Parliament. All workers employed at a minor wage were to contribute 5 per cent, of their salary to the state insurance fund, their employers contributing the same, and thereafter tho workers and their families were to live happy. WORKERS REPEL Practically the scheme lias not worked out so well. Many Laborers refused to contribute and asked for 5 per cent, wage increases so that the insurance payments would not come from their wage envelopes. That brought an immediate reaction in living costs. Workers who were injured and sought to collect insurance on their claims found that they had run into endless red tape. Linder this insurance scheme, workers who are injured pay but 15 per cent, of their druggist’s bill, the state paying the remainder. In case of serious injury insured workers can be put on half salary for six months, thereafter receiving a pension during any absence up to live years. Women 'workers about to become mothers are excused from work and pensioned at half salary for six weeks before the date of birth and six weeks after the birth. There is a definite i>ension for workers reaching 60 for the remainder of their lives. The pension at 70 averages less than £1 a months DEATH DUTIES There is also a demand for a down-, ward revision of the heavy death duties which the state charges all estates. These duties vary according to the de-t gree of parentage of the heirs, but in some eases have .run as much as 97 per cent, of the heritage. Heirs of tho first degree, sons inheriting from father's, pay three to 15 per cent, on estate from one franc to 50 millions. Widows inheriting from husbands, or vice' versa, pay 3.6 per cent, to 15.6 per cent. Nephews and nieces inheriting from aunts or uncles pay 20 to 44 per cent., all other degrees of parentage pay from 32 to 56.4 per cent. There is a supplementary tax of 39 per cent, when there are no direct children among the heirs.