Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - V. Social Movements - 1. Labour Questions and Social politics - Social Insurance
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
social insurance.
715
Sickness Benefit Societies. Sickness and burial benefit societies in
Sweden, as in other countries, have a very long history. Their origin can
thus be traced to the guilds and fraternities of the Middle Ages, which
counted among their aims the extension of relief to their members in the
event of sickness or death. It is true that the so-named "Liberty of Trade
Ordinance" of 1864 made away with all compulsory regulations of this
nature. But nevertheless, the efforts at self-aid that had subsisted for
centuries, and in the course of time had gradually penetrated to circles
beyond the pale of the Guild system, still survived, and in the year 1870
attained a very promising development. Important factors in forwarding
this development were the so-called "hundramannaföreningar" ("hundred
men societies"), which sprang up over Sweden, and the Friendly Societies,
at that time flourishing luxuriantly, which included in their working
program the formation of sickness and other benefit funds for its
members. Of still greater importance, however, have been the manifold social
movements that have arisen in the last few decenniums particularly among
the working classes and equivalent ranges of society: such as, for example,
trade unionism, the temperance movement, and modern religious movements
which, as a rule, have likewise addressed themselves to the establishment
of sick and funeral funds. The temperance movement in particular has
been of the most vital importance in this regard, and several of the biggest
sick funds in Sweden have been formed as branches of Temperance
Societies or Orders. The industrial revolution has also tended to foster the
development of the sick-benefit system, by providing facilities for the
foundation of sickness benefit societies among the large masses of
workers congregated in large industrial establishments.
The above-named Committee presented in 1889 a scheme for
sick-benefit legislation, providing for State regulation of the management of
sickness benefit societies, as well as for State subsidies. Out of these
proposals emerged, though in a very muiilated condition, the sickness
benefit societies act of 1891.
The Sickness Benefit Societies Act of the 30th October 1891 did not provide
for compulsory registration. But sickness benefit societies whose statutes were
framed in accordance with the regulations of the Act, were eligible for registration,
provided that the society had at least 25 members, that its committee was
composed of exclusively Swedish subjects, and that it devoted its monies solely to
sickness and funeral benefits, apart from the necessary expenses of administration.
A sickness benefit society acquired on registration a recognized legal status and
a right to an annual contribution from the State, the so-termed
"förvaltningsbidraget" (contribution in aid of administration). After the said State
contribution had been raised on two occasions, it was fixed from the year 1900 at
1’5<> kr. for each member up to 100, at 1 kr. for each member beyond 100 and
up to 300, at 0*50 kr. for a number of members ranging from 301 to 2 600, and
0’85 kr. for each member beyond that number.
To begin with, the effects of the Act of 1891 were not very conspicious, and
the number of sick benefit societies registered, and the number of their members,
grew with comparative tardiness. The year 1897, however, brought with it a remark-
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
