NATIONAL INSURANCE IN GERMANY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10612, 19 April 1912, Page 4

NATIONAL INSURANCE IN GERMANY.

The German State insurance scheme has recently been, extended in an im.pppteujt direction, the benfc&te of the law "being now ' Applied to salaried workers. The new. measure provides an, old age, infirmity, and widows' and orpHians' insurance fund for the large class of salaried'employees (other than those in the public services) whose social stblbus is held to he superior' to that of "work-people," and for whom no general provisions have been made in, the various social insurance laws hitherto enacted in that country, otherwise than by the 'accident insurance law, which, ajs- recently amended, covers works superintendents earning up to 5000 marks (£246) per annum. The. number of persons affected by the-compulsory' clauses of the new law is; estimated at 1,800,000. Insurance ic compulsory for a.--' persons belonging to any of the classes enumerated 'below'.who have completed theiri 16th/year, and who had not reached the ago of 60 at the time of entering upon'-.their .present occupation, proyir dec! such persons, aire fit for -work and are in receipt of a saaary not exceeding £246 per annum:— 1. Employee's exercising managerial functions. 2. Works superintendents-, etc., and members of office or counting house staffs. 4. Members of theatrical and orchestra companies. 5. Teachers. 6. Masters, officers, pursers, etc., on CJermlari vessels, whether sea-going or plying on inland waters. Insxired persons are divided into nine classes, according to their salaries, the contributions per month varying from Is 7d where the -yearly salary is not more .fchaai £27, to 26s 2d where the salary is between £197 and £246. To qualify for a pension for old age or infirmity the insured persons must have contributed for not less than 120 tmkmtlis in the case of men, and 60 im'ontihs in ithe caee of women. In order to .secure pensions for widows and oaipWaaiis, contribiitions must h'avo been paid for jut least 120 iMMiths. The cost of the insurance is to be .borne by the employees and their employers in equal chares, without State subvention.