New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-14
New stock
A COMPULSORY INSURANCE LAW
How Denmark Protects Itself Against
Qanendeuts Due to Accidents.

Consul General Wallace c. Bond, Of
Copenhagen, writes that compulsory insUr-
ance by Danish employers against accident
or loss of life OF workmen in certain en-
ployments is provided for by law, in a re-
view OF which he says;
The law requiring insurance Of work
men has, since its passage on January .,
1898. been IN continuous operation apparent
ly to the mutual satisfaction of both en-
ployer and employee. Although the law
does not deny the employer the right OF
taking the risk OF the insurance himself
that is, virtually constituting himself an
insurance COnpany-as a general rule Dan
ish employers prefer TO insure their work
men in an insurance company licensed by
the state 10 assume such risks
I'm different classes of employment the
premium varies considerably. For most
empIoyments, however. the premiums
range between Il and 80 crowns ts3 % and
IS GD a workman a year. In some cases
they are low as or crowns 81 o. 70
81 3H. while in hazardous work the cost IS
as high as 30 10 50 crowns 1915 0s 10 S21 ~.
While it would appear that the com
pulsory insurance OF workmen constitutes
direct tax on the manufacturer expert
ence here shows that the consumer praC-
ucdlly pays the insurance premium, II De-
in. included by the employer in estimat-
ing the cost of production The advan-
tdgeS of the Danish law are
IN Absolute protection OF me Working
man: ~ avoidance Of all litigation con-
nected with injuries received from accl-
dents: 80 the knowledge on the part or
the employer that long as the insurance
is paid he need fear no losses from dam
age suits etc, t4) IL a workingrnan IS in
jured those depending on him are pro-
tected from such want or pr1vaJIOn as
might be caused by the cessation OF his
wages The settlements are made promptly
and the sufferer and his dependents are
caused as little inconvenience as possible
The law covers great variety OF en-
plCyrnents. such as work in factories where
machinery is used shops where explosives
are made used, stone quarrles- most
building works. ShlpbUlldIng railway.
bridge and canal construction. erection ana
repairs Of telegraph. telephone and electric
wires and lightning rods. railway, street
railway and omnibus service. etc II also
includes in its application not only private
firms employing workmen in the lines II
specifies. but also state and city corpora
lions acting such employers
The insurance. according to this law
applies to every person who. for wages OF
on contract. is employed in Denmark con-
tinually temporarily in the techn1ca1- BE-
nee hanicaI part of the business. or who
certain sum 10 supervise or manage THIS
part of the business. if the compensation
does not exceed 400 crowns tS045l yearly
IF a workman engaged IN any OF tIle
empIoynents covered by the law suffers
an accident which has temporarily Or cen
rinuaIIy decreased his working capacity.
he is insured against the sustained loss -
his working capaC city. If the accident causes
death and the workman leaves widow.
she is entitled TO the insurance, II no mr.
riage took place before the acc-dent anc
they had not ceased to live together
..Tf the workman does not leave vsfJ.N
who is entitled TO the insurance MS chill
dren ar. entitled to II. if ne was liable
for their support or did support IlS.n at
rhe time the accident took place IL the
workman leaves neither wife nor Cu'!Grsn
IN will be decided by a council Whethvr tNV
in Insurance shall be due 10 others who at rrS
time of the accident were supported by the
workman The same rules apply q female
employees who leave children or Others Sri'-
Orted bv them