Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1950-01-16
Sweden
DESIGN FOR WELFARE

boi SCiy SPCdhlllS, lile year 1910
saw certain slackening- of the
social welfare legislative program
which had been going full steam
ahead since intensification in 1915
when master-mind Gustav M0ller
launched his "Four-year Welfare
Plan"
The magnitude of society bene-
fits can best be shown by sky
rocketing of costs to an estimated
10 per cent of net national in
come in 194s Ito 2,2OO mill. or;
S611 mill; f152 MILL.
Present trend in social insurance
is to make all branches compulsory
and to streamline the system by
introducing one combined fee. Eff
fected in 1948, the new national
pension law superseded the 1913
statute and inaugurated pensions
adequate in themselves for PEN
sioners' support.
Compulsory health insurance
will come into effect in 1851; the
bill was passed in 1947 and was
intended to be acuated in 1850 but
was postponed.
By 1949 there were proposals for
compulsory maternity insurance
and unemployment insurance. Re-
vamping was proposed concerning
insurance for on-the-job accidents.
Family welfare goal is to dis
tribute cost of raising children
over the entire people, thus pre-
venting the economic burden of
children from lowering the living
standard of families. To this end,
families with children receive as
sistance in cash, goods, and serv-
ices, the most significant measure
being a tax-free cash grant for
every child of 26O or. a year (S72;
f18).
Labor welfare backbone is the
act of 1912 which aims at protect
ing the laborer's health and safety.
Other statutes set working hours
at 48 per week; limit a minors
working age to IA in general but
to Is in manufacturing and to 10
in mining; provide for a minimum
paid vacation of IL days (three
weeks to all under 1S). Govern
ment-run employment bureaus and
guidance agencies provide job
placement and counselling.
Housing policy is often described
as the most important component
of Sweden's social legislation. In a
speeded-up program from 1888 to
1948, housing has thus far been
allocated some 1000 mill or.
($5555 MILL; f13s mill.)
To be completed within 1915
years, a new housing program
started in 1948 deals with re-
building and improvement as we'll
as new construction.
The Governments helping-hand
policy includes loans and subsidies
for one or two-family houses to-
gether with loans for apartment
buildings. Communities or public
corporations can get tertiary mort
gage loans up to 1000 of build
ing value; cooperative construc-
tors to $50, and others, $4,000.
Private home loans for building
one or two-family houses can in
clude basic subsidy and cover
80 interest.
Health services are given at low
fees but will be entirely free when
the new health insurance scheme
is effected. With only IS beds per
1000 people, hospital facilities are
insufficient; psychiatric facilities
are limited. Main obstacle con-
tinues to be the shortage of per-
sonnet, especially nurses.
About 500 Government-emplo
doctors in as many rural districts
are aided by LOO district nurses
in their capacity as health officers.
In urban districts. local govern
men.s employ similar doctors. Dis
trict physicians are responsible for
both health control and medical
care; they must render medical
services for a low fee. Without
charge they must supervise public
health condition, the care of in
fants. young children and mothers
and health in schools.