History of
Social Security
in Switzerland

Risk history

Old Age

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The question of how society can guarantee a reasonable level of income for older people was a topic of frequent debate in the 20th century. Due to the substantial resources that are used to this end and the number of people dependent upon it, old age provision remains one of the most controversial topics in providing social security to this day.
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Unemployment

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The modern understanding of unemployment emerged at the end of the 19th century when public and private measures were gradually taken to support those unable to find employment. This did not therefore concern ‘the needy‘ , but rather the ‘unemployed’ who needed something other than public welfare. However, not everyone without work was considered unemployed. Only those who were able and willing to work to work were included. The history of tackling unemployment and regulating the labor market are closely intertwined.
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llness

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In the course of life, everyone falls ill multiple times. Though this may happen with greater or lesser frequency and severity for any particular person, everyone is at risk. Many diseases are also considered social problems, as was long true for infectious diseases like cholera, tuberculosis or – more recently – AIDS. This is true as well for chronic conditions such as cancer or cardiovascular disease. Here it is not just an individual whose life is at risk but rather entire groups that are affected, which is why it becomes a political issue to take precautions against these illnesses. Health and individual well-being have become social goods, and it is in the public interest to safeguard them.
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Accidents

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Suva accident prevention poster, ‘Don’t forget your helmet’, 1977. Source: Suva, Lucerne.
A large part of social security seeks to provide protection against the risks of the modern workplace. Indeed, this was the main purpose of social security in Switzerland until the mid-20 century.
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Family and childhood

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Yes to Maternity Leave 2004. Source: Bibliothèque de Genève, Da 2757.
Until well into the 19 century, maternity and family were considered natural risks that needed no protection from the welfare state. This changed after the First World War once maternity insurance and family allowances were put on the political agenda. The electorate enshrined both instruments in the federal constitution in 1945. However, implementation was a drawn-out affair. While the cantons were the first to act in the case of family allowances, maternity insurance was not implemented until 2004.
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Disabilities

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Physical, mental or physical impairment is common. Nowadays in Switzerland, more than ten per cent of the working-age population suffers from a disability, be it due to birth defect, accident or illness. How disabilities have been defined, and addressed (or ignored), has changed significantly over time. In the history of the Swiss welfare state, those with disabilities were long overshadowed by other groups at risk. A national disability insurance scheme was only created in 1960.
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Poverty

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Poverty is the outcome of unequal societies. Poverty is only recognized once society addresses it and finds it problematic. The category of ‘the poor’ is hence a consequence of a social policy specifically aimed at the poor. Until the end of the 19th century, government felt itself responsible for the problems of poverty only to a limited degree. Looking after the poor was primarily a matter for private charity, the church or the family. It was not until the rise of the workers’ movement, industrialisation and urbanization that fighting poverty fell within the competence of the public authorities.
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