Workers' compensation in Germany is a national compulsory program that insures workers for injuries or illnesses that arise through their work, or travel to or from their work. Wage earners, apprentices, family helpers and students including children in kindergarten are covered by this program. Almost all entrepreneurs can voluntarily be insured. The German workers' compensation law is the first of its kind.
Video Worker's compensation (Germany)
The legal history of workers' compensation in Germany
The Draft Bill became law in 1883 and the Accident Bill in 1884. Otto Von Bismarck, the Imperial Chancellor of Germany, introduced programs to assist workers in the event of an accident, illness or old age. This initial system is financed by workers and employers.
The Disease Insurance Law pays compensation for up to 13 weeks. The first four weeks are 50% of the previous wage, from the fifth week on the benefit is 66.7% of previous earnings. A truly disabled worker receives an allowance of 67% after 13 weeks, fully funded by the employer. If a disabled person needs constant care, then up to 100% of the previous wage is given.
The German compensation system is used as a model for many other country workers' compensation programs.
Maps Worker's compensation (Germany)
The modern compensation system in Germany
Today, in Germany, every worker is a member of the relevant Workers' Compensation Institution ( Berufsgenossenschaft ) and almost all self-employed people can volunteer to become an insured member of an institution as well. The institute has about 90% of the rate of return to employment, using vocational retraining and upgrading vocational qualifications as a key strategy.
All accidents at work - or on round trips - are covered. 67 diseases are considered occupational diseases and are also covered by the program.
Employee compensation programs are funded by employers (excluding government coverage for students and children and government subsidies for Agricultural Accident Funds). The contribution of the average employer (1996) is 1.42% of salary.
Injured workers have the right to appeal to their Institut committees. The next appeal level after this committee is to the court of Sozialgericht . The agency must bear the cost of the appeals process, so there is no fee for workers.
Benefits
Disability allowances are paid as "weekly wage" compensation. Workers who can not do their current job because of injury or ill receive a regular payment of 80% of their gross income before they get back to work (up to the maximum total payout). If rehabilitation is foreseen it is unlikely that workers receive benefits for 78 weeks.
Wages are paid for six weeks by the employer before the employee enters the short-term disability benefits.
Workers who have lost their income capacity due to occupational injuries or occupational diseases 20% or more receive a pension of 66.7% of the previous year's earnings, up to the specified maximum. It is paid until the age of 65 years, unless he begins to receive his old age pension before the age of 65 years.
Medical care allowances are comprehensive, with total physical rehabilitation costs and closed equipment. The institution provides all the benefits of medical care. The Institutes control the choice of doctors and hospitals.
References
- German Accident Insurance Association
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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