Basic income – basic rights

NPI - Kela, Helsinki 24 November 2014

Basic income as remedy

for violations of human rights!

Matti Mikkola

Professor of Labour Law (emeritus)

University of Helsinki

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Categories of minimum standards under the European Social Charter (the ESC)

Social security (insurance) benefits: Art. 12§2 of the ESC:

Reference to ILO 102 and Social Code of the Coe

40 – 50 % in relation to previous wage (1952; 1964)

Minimum social income: (Art.12§1 and Art.13§1 of the ESC)

50% (never below 40%) of the country’s net median

equivalised household income per adult (2004)

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Contingency Percentage*

ILO-102 Soc. Code Protocol

Short term benefits

1. Sickness

2. Maternity

3. Unemployment

45 45 50

4. Employment injury

a) Incapacity for work

b) Total loss of earning capacity

c) Survivors

50 50 50**

40 40 45

Long term benefits

5. Invalidity

6. Old age

7. Survivors

40 40 50

40 40 45***

Employment-related minimum to standard beneficiaries

(ILO 1952, Social code and protocol of 1964)

3

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Minimum thresholds of social income under Art. 12§2 and 12§1 of the ESC

CAPITAL INCOME

WAGES

SOCIAL INCOME

Non-working

population

Managers

Precarious

work Net median income

12§1 50 % of net median income

Subsistence minimum

12§2 40 – 50 % of previous wage

12§1 40 % of net median income

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Combination of minimum thresholds

.

Art.12§1 of the ESC

50% of the net median income

Guaranteed income

Art. 12§2 of the ESC

40 – 50 % of earnings

Less in

precarious work

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50 % of net average income as minimum

Conclusions of the ECSR in 2013 (situation 2011)

€ Soc. Sec. Soc. Ass. Art. 12§1 Art.13§1

Norway 1.514 + - (- *)

Denmark 1.100 + + (- *)

Sweden 938 - +

Finland 909 - +

Netherlands 846 + +

Germany 793 o o

Greece 458 - -

Bulgaria 121 - -

Romania 88 - -

+ positive

o deferral,

- negative,

* unequal treatment

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Basic income - Finland 2015

- in compliance with the human rights -

1.000 € per month