ABSTRACT
The system of social security in a country interacts with industrial relations in that it provides a backing to wages, pensions, sickness, injury benefits and other payments or benefits provided by the firm. The west European systems, some of which pre-dated the British national insurance system, are based primarily on the State, but the administration and incidence varies between countries. The Treaty of Rome emphasis on the harmonisation of taxation and benefits must bring forth some interesting comparisons between its member states. When the Common Market countries were poorer, they still paid higher social security benefits in most cases than did the British. If we take the case of a steelworker, who is married with two children, we find that he received monthly payment in different countries in 1959, for the various reasons indicated. Payments or benefits for those at work tend to be related to earnings, which in turn means a different contribution related to income.
