The Washington herald., 1914-03-15
Hon Norway and Denmark Are
Solving Out-Of- Work Problem


nine years between 1888 and 1905 the or
sanized trades OF Denmark spent SS0T sss
in unemployment benefits. and they lent
all their influence in support OF the bill
offering state aid. At the present date
fifty-two trade unions. practically all the
federated trades. have established unem-
ployment funds in accordance with the
terms of the law. and lI1.ooo union men
are thus insured.
The Danish law differs from the Nor
wegian In few points. The state offers
subvention to recognized unemploy-
ment funds amounting TO one-third the
premiums paid the members The COM
munes are urged to pay an addition of
one-sixth 10 the sums contributed by per-
sons residing within their limits. The
advantage OF estimating the government
contribution according - premiums paid.
rather than to BENEFITS paid. lays In the
possibility OF accumulating a reserve
fund In good times against the years OF
depression.
Denmark has been peculiarly fortunate
in the personnel Of her state bureau of
inspection. TIL. Sorensen, the INSPECTOR
general. enjoys the full confidence of the
trade union men. He annually convenes
the officials responsible for the uAhem-
ployment funds for conference and ad-
Vice. and this personal contact obviates
many Observation-Disclosures Six representa-
-tfves Of the unemployment officials, to-
gether with the inspect Jr general make
up the Council OF Unemployment and
in this body all questions of policy are
threshed out. The section of the law
which provides that "a recognized unem-
ploymcnt fund may not give aid to per-
sons engaged In a strike. OF to persons
unemployed because Of a lockout" was
discussed at length, with q view to the
Interpretation of doubtful cases. For ex-
ample, men thrown out of work because
OF a strike for which they are in no
way responsible. and men who at the
close of a strike or lockout are not able
to return to their former employment
arc entitled TO benefits: on the other
hand. strikers moving about in search OF
work are not entitled to travelling bene-
fits.
Workers Insured.
Fully 11l.ooo persons and 60 per cent of
the workmen in Denmark are now in
sured. (The proportion is 20 per cent OF
the men insurable and q Per cent of the
insurable women.) Practically all the in
dustrial laborers-who are unionists and
socialists to a man-are insured under \
aided insurance are government employees
ION the railroads. in postoffices. etc.). !
who are not subject to the hazards Of |
and agricultural laborers
The unskilled workmen and the casual |
untouched by the Norwegian |
system. have been brought |
within the scope Of state aid in Den |
mark by a very effective labor organiza- |
ton. The membership of the Unskilled |
Laborers' Union Is now 5000. fully one
third of the total number of organized |
laborers, and all this within four years. |
Within the limits prescribed by the law |
the conditions of unemployment insur- /
ance vary with each fund. The dues |
vary from the minimum Of 81. 40, paid by |
the unskille6 workwomen. to the maxi
mum of 81 per year. paid by the workers |
in stucco. The daily stipend Is one. one
and a half or two krone according to /
the financial Ttarus Of the fund. A krone
Is equal to about q cents. The period
Of payment runs from fifty aAs In the
year allowed the unskilled laborers to the
maximum of 16O days allowed the print
srs. The total amount of the benefits
paid in 1912 was s45s. $40. of which 53.s Der
cent was contributed by the members.
l9 per cent by the state, and I.3 per
cent by the communes- The sums spent
n aid of unemployment from all sources
'or the five years during which the act
has been in operation amounts to i
.. $500. Ii
The success of the Danish system OF II
insurance may be attributed L
n large measure to the spirit OF team
,lay which obtains in all classes and Il
which renders mutual helpfulness and the /
of state and commune with
abor organizations acceptable to all
lasses. |,
1t is just 20 conclude that the Danes
ave demonstrated two economic truths:j i
first, that unemployment is the most
requent cause OF pauperism. and. second. 4
hat insurance IS the most effective rem.
dy for unemployment