ABSTRACT
The modern history of social security in the Czech Republic starts with Bismarck and his social insurance legislation. At that time the country was part of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy which very soon followed the German example. Czechoslovakia was no doubt the first country to develop a coherent social security concept for a post-communist society. The economic problems apart, the communist transformation of the social protection system produced a number of qualitative changes in its concept. In breaking the links with social insurance the regime rendered the system more flexible but not necessarily for the satisfaction of social needs. The social reform plan in its final form, as prepared by the Federation, is built on three pillars: social insurance, state social support and social aid. The social insurance system aims at preserving the level of living attained by the individual; it covers the risks of old-age, invalidity and survivors, sickness and maternity, unemployment and health care.
