Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - V. Social Movements - 1. Labour Questions and Social politics - Social Insurance
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social insurance.
723
The first proposal for comprehensive legislation on this subject emanated
in 1888 from the above mentioned Workmen’s Insurance Committee, in
their Report on Legislation with regard to Insurance against Accidents
incurred during Work. The proposed scheme contemplated the introduction
of compulsory insurance against accident for workers in industry, transport,
and shipping. The Bill, however, was thrown out by the Riksdag.
In the meantime, the Workmen’s Insurance Committee had been
continuing its labours, and in 1889 had brought forward a scheme for general
old age insurance for the whole population of Sweden. This proposal,
however, was not accepted by the Riksdag, which,’ in lieu of it, took up the
suggestion of solving both old age and accident insurance in one, and on
the basis of the principle of disablement. For this purpose there was
appointed in 1891 a new committee, the so-called New Workmen’s Insurance
Committee, which, two years later, presented a proposal for a law relating
to the provision of pensions in the case of permanent incapacity for work.
Insurance should be made compulsory only for industrial workers, and
should apply to incapacity for work, whether due to old age, accident, or
other causes. The expenditure for the purpose should be defrayed from
fees paid partly by the employers, and partly by the workpeople.
However, this proposal too failed to win the approval of the Riksdag.
The same fate was reserved for a new proposal, which was based on the
main principles of the 1895 scheme, and was laid before the Riksdag in
1898 (see the section of Old Age and Invalidity Insurance for a more
detailed account of both proposals).
After all these abortive attempts to reach a solution of the problem on
the basis of compulsory insurance, there was no other way left open but
to endeavour to obtain a law founded on direct liability of compensation:
in other words, one had to be content with an employers’ liabilitjr law. A
proposal on this basis was, in fact, laid before the Riksdag in 1900 and
1901 and was passed in the latter year, as the Workmen’s Compensation
Act now in force. This was followed by a Royal Decree of the 2nd
October 1908 relating to Accident Insurance for Fishermen and a Royal
Decree of the 18th June 1909 relating to Compensation for Injury incurred
in Military Service.
The Workmen’s Compensation Act of 1901 is now generally
acknowledged to be in need of a thorough revision. There would appear to be a
general consensus of opinion that the new legislation which shall supersede
that now in force, shall rest on the basis of compulsory insurance.
The question as to the revision of the law has been delegated to the
so-called Old Age Insurance Committee (see below), which is expected to
bring forward proposals for a new law on the subject before the Riksdag
in the year 1916.
Legislation now in force. The Workmen’s Compensation Act of the 5th
July 1901, broadly speaking, embraces in its sweep the entire range of
industry, inclusive of forestry and mining, as well as the loading and un-
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