(Oouat17 Pnpaaa) - United Nations Archives

310.1 - BBLGIUll: IJeltare Aotint:I.N (Oouat17 Pnpaaa)

I , '

TO: Gay Shepperson 8 AUoCUSt 1945

FRO_l : 1. H. Wickwar

SUBJECT: ~elfare notes, Belgium , month ending 4 August 1945

1. UNRRA Personnel

The chief of mission C,frathall) reported to London in the middle of May and then . returned to Brussel\is.

The VJelfare officer (Henry Samson)has sent no report since the first of may.

2. Supplies.

Prime responsibility for essential imports rests with the Allied Military until the end of August; but the Belgi.aa authorities are already suppl~ -ing military procurement with their own procurement overseas and they ex-pect to assume full responsibility from 1 September. •

3. War Damage

~• Out of a total of 200,000 homeless people, it is reported that 80,000 are at Antwerp. £• Of the 60,000 houses reported to be in need of major repair it is said that 15,000 have now been repaired so that they are again inhabitable. (There were also 40,000 houses totally destroyed.) .2• The extent of material loss is hard to estimate sincethe declarations filed by claimants for compensation amounted to four times the assessed valuation of the property.

4. Displaced Persons

Only about 2,000 BelgiPIS were still in Germany awaiting repatriation on 31 July.

5. Belgip Jews

The i19int distribution committee reports that in Hay 1945, there were 23,000 Jev1s in Belgium in comparison with the pre-war Jewish population of 90,000 and that of this 23,000, some 7,000 came under the JDC Relief Committee and 3,000 came under its child care committee. (It is of course possible that a number of BelgiU Jews were still . in France where they h~d taken refuge.) :ost Jev1ish children in Christian homes are said to be nncler t he su,)ervision and to some extent in receipt of assistance from the local Jewish committee.

_,

;[elfare Notes Page II

B.

1. a. UNRRA ]Emergency 'Telfare Supplies. These totaled 71 3/4 tons to 30 June. b. Used Clothing. Out of 13 million .pounds ready for immediate ship­moot from United States on 25 June, 1.5 million pounds were allocated to Belgium and Luxemburg together. (Out of the previous clothing drive, Belgium received 10/~l of the combined Belgo-Luxenburg allocation.) This clothing will presumably be distributed through special war victims relief Agencies. (Fonds National de secours aux sinistres.) .£.a. Swiss Help. In December 1944 the Belgium Red Cross applied to the Swiss Red Cross for aid. The Swiss sent in up to 19 April, 70 tons of condensed milk, 80 tons of cheese and 15 ·tons of special foods as well as three teams each consisting of one doctor, two or three nurses and a supply officer.

2. Social Security. The Van Acker law of 28 December 1944 unifying the whole Belgiq social security system and introducing compulsory iRt8iPilK !M.._,.,.., against sickness and unemployment for the first time is gradually coming into operation. Full details are given in International Labour Review, Ap_ril 1945.

WELFARE NOTES : Belgium

A. GENERAL

l • .Agreement. Some new arrangements have been made with the Belgian government and the bank of Belgium. for the financing of Belgian teams in Belgian currency.

2. Personnel. Recruitment of personnel for service in assembly centers has been higher in proportion to population in Belgium than in any other country. Up to 19 May, some 563 Belgians, including 69 welfare officers, had been recruited by UNRRA.

No reports have been received from Henry Samson since 1 May. ERO reported on 12 May that he was to concentrate on recruiting welfare personnel for the n.p. operation. A letter from Athens,dated 20 June 1945, reports a certain Henry Samson as paying a flying visit to Greece.

Headquarters correspondence unit knows no way of ma.king sure that communications from headquarters will reach Samson in Belgium.

Wrathall left London for Brussels 12 May but was expected to return to London shortly.

3. Supply.

a. Of the United States clothing contributed during the September 1944 drive, the allocation to Belgium is 600,000 pounds (approximately 300 tons). SHAEF complains that this clothing was badly in need of sorting, cleaning, and mending before it would be fit for distribution.

b. Emergency welfare supplies sent to Belgium amounted to only 30 tons to the end of May; practically no clothing and footwear were included.

4. Displaced Persons. There has been a huge movement of displaced per­sons into and through Belgium. To the end of May, about 150,000 Belgians had returned from Germany, but three times as many Frenchmen passed through Belgium on their way home from Germany. This made transit centers exception­ally important in Belgium.

Belgians accounted for 5% of the displaced persons in the Anglo-.American zone in Germany.

5. Social Conditions. '4-.,,,~

a. Employment and unemployment. ~ fell fran 300 1 000 in Februa11r and 2001 000 in March to 100,000 in May. Some 150,000 men were then employed by the Allied armies. Before the war many coal miners in Belgium were innni­grants from Poland, Yugoslavia and Italy who were displaced to Germany during the war and have~not been returned to Belgium; this is one of~the reasons for the failure of Be°lgian coal miners to produce more than half its prewar output; undernourishment and overwork of coal miners is another reason. Until coal supply returns to normal, Belgian industry cannot fully resume production.

.,

b. The clothing shortage. It is reckoned that BelgiUI!l needs clothing for 200,000 returning displaced persons, 200,000 bombed-out and homeless civilians (sinistr6s) and 200,000 other poor persons,making a total of 600,000. To supply them with one complete outfit each it would take 6000 tons of cloth­ing and footwear, including 600,000 pairs of shoes. Towards this total there had been procured up to 1 May)l700 tons, including 244,000 pairs of shoes, from the following sources: 722 tons in gifts, 171 tons from the .Army Civil Affairs' supplies, and 807 tons purchased in Belgium. This left 4300 tons still to be procured in order that all those in need might have a minimum supply of clothing.

c. Devastation in the Bulge. Distress caused by the German winter offensive is so great that the province of Belgium-Luxembourg in the Ardennes has been exempted from contributions to the nati~n's food.

d. The merger of trade unions on 1 May 1945 applied only to secular unions and did not extend to the Catholic ones.

B. vVELFARE SERVICES

1. Services for Repatriated Displaced Persons.

a. A lump-sum grant of 1000 Belgian francs (~23.00) is made to each Belgian who was involuntarily displaced to Germa.ny, but this is not available to any who volunteered for work in Gennany before 30 September 1943.

b. Free me di cal care is given to repatriated displaced persons for three months.

c. Returning displaced persons are entitled to double rations and a ration of 24 liters (quarts) of milk per month for the first three months, pro­vided they are able to pay for them.

d. They are entitled to an outfit of clothes if in need.

e. A monthly allowance of 2500 Belgian francs ($58.00) is available but comes apparently from a fund for ex-servicemen and is probably only for the benefit of former prisoners of war; this is not quite clear.

· 2. The National War Victims Fund (Fonds national de secours aux sinisti/4is, or FNSS). This fund is especially interested in clothing distribution. All foreign-contributed clothing is handled by it. It also aims at buying new and used clothing in Belgium itself for the benefit of those who are unable to pay for it themselves; and for this purpose it counts on spending 2000 Belgian francs per person. ()rving to the inadequacy of supplies at its disposal, it has been unable to clothe all who are in need and has therefore had to establish certain priorities as follows: (a) political deportees, (b) the banbed out, (c) deportees vrho a.re in desperate plight, and (d) other displaced persons,

Prisoners of war presumably have a higher priority, getting clothes either from some other source or by being classed with the political deportees; but this is not clear.

This fund is seeking 10,000 beds with the help of the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

WffWickw"ar/lw ( 4 July 1945) {;; ~

Weekly Welfare Notes: BELGIUM wVeek ending 30 May 1945

A• GENERAL

1. Relationsa No information

2. Personnels Samson returned to Brussels from Luxembourg in mid-April and wrote from Brussels dealing mainly with Luxembourg matters on 1 May.

3. Supplies: No information

4. General:

(a) Housing: Of about 2,000 1 000 dwelling units, about 100,000 have been put out of use by the wars

destroyed or irreparable needing major repair

40,000 56,000

(b) Trade unions a Before the war Belgium had several conflicting federations of labor, organized mainly on denominational or ideological lines. On 1 May 1945 the four principal groups merged in a "Federation generall du travail de Belgique".

B. WELFARE PROGRAM

1. Emergency supplies: Clothing from the United States 1944 church drive seems to have been handed over for distribution by the Fonds national de secours aux sinistr~s.

2. Displaced Belgians

(a) SHAEF reported 145,207 Belgians repatriated to 26 May.

(b) Allowances for deportees, of B. frs. 20-25 per dependent per day, were introduced 5 May 1945 and are retroactive as from 1 January 1945.

8. Displaced foreign children in BelgiUt1.:

The Belgian Commissariat au repatriement requested the Oeuvre nationale de l'Enfance to organize the reception of 20,000 children evacuated from the Netherlands on the same basis as if they were Belgian children (beginning of May).

WIDVickwar/lw 31 May 1945

Weekly Welfare Notes: BELGIUM Week

A. GENERAL

1. Agreement: No information.

2. Personnel:

(a) Chief of mission: Rhatigan 1s letter of instruction to Wrathall (19 April) instru.cted him to omit · not only confidential bu.t also controversial matter from his routine reports.

s-c::,_ (b) Flying squads: "Ftt"e have been placed by UNRRA at the dis­

posal of the commissioner for repatriation.

3. Supply:

(a) UKRRA. has helped Belgium buy large quantities of eye without disturbing the market.

(b) Food supplies landed at Antwerp are distributed by barge.

4. Conditions

(a) Unemployment has fallen:

February (average) 12 March 24 March

300 000 215 000 160 000

(b) Sinistres: homeless persons number 200,000 of whom 90,000 are children.

(c) Evacuees from Antwerp, to avoid the V bombs, numbered 100,000.

B • WELFARE PROGRAMS

1. Returning POW' s

They are given three months' leave with full pay, free medical care, -back pay, a lump-sum bonus, and double rations.

2. Social security reforms

Last year's reforms have failed to meet the demand especially for pensions.

(a) The miners' trade unions are asking for miners pensions to be raised to Belgium Frs. 12,500-15,000 monthly.

(b) The minister of labor and social welfare has appointed a com­mittee to complete new plans for social security and medical care by June 1945.

3. Young Persons' Welfare

HWickwar/ml

The minister of labor and social welfare has appointed a consultative committee on the employment of young persons.

Weekly Welfare Notes: BELGIU){ Week ending 16 May 1945

.l. GENERAL

l. .A.greement: No information

2. Personnel: Samson was due back from Luxembourg soon after 16 .lpril.

3. Requirements: o.s.s. calculates minimum food import requirements for crop year 1945-&6 beginning 1 September, in thousand metric tons:

Caloric level 2000 2200 2650

Wheat 595 700 950

Vegetable oil 47

71 118

Protein 0 0 2

Total 642 771

1070

4. Conditions: Unemployment has fallen drastically. Labor shortage is approaching. SRA.EF has pa.t 14,000 German POI'' s at the disposal of :Belgium.

Wages have been stabilized at 60~ above pre-war.

B. pr.FARE PROGIW4S

1. :Sngian Jews: J. D. C. estinates that 90,000 pre-war Jews have been distributed as follows:

left in Belgium fled to France deported to Germa.ny

20 000 45 000 25 000

Of those left in :Belgium, one-third ware dependent on relief in .lpril.

Hliclcwa.r/ml

..

"ountr;z: el:fare Reno rt: BELG ID · f'Pk end.ing 1

1. 5reement betweens~ ~F &nd u1IB..ti.A C

EF rernains respo11sible for the welfare of the civilian population. and,altho it a· ·ts concern only whe11 w lfa.re ·s a matter of inportance o mi itl ry operations, it is actua.lly interested in the welf .... re of civilians de homeless by bombing. n the calling forrard and equitable distribution of em r­gency relief supplies, and. in the 1·•elfa.re of refugees.

The ,,elfare ection of • "RF has given the · lfare Lia.isov o~f'icei· from every opportunity to acquire "the knowledge of SHA.F...F' t hand.lin of welfare pro­blems which will be ind s:pensable to an tnffi.."Q,A. ... insion if and when such a mission is accredited to the 0 overnment 11 • Henry arnson also reported on 2 April: 11 The plan is tha,t t}; e woi·k of the section ill be divided up andit is the in­t0nticn of l.zjor :Bevier to turn over to me the whole question of locating and expediting the distribution of su~nlies, ~hich are arriving in quantity. I ould be possible for us at t 1

is '10int to · no'i e" ctly 1h2t is coming :n the source of the supplies, and also their dis tr; ution11 •

Know::.r..g ~mscn's op osition to the ::ru.bordination of UKRP.A. to the mLibry, 1 r nay assun.e thn.t his uresence is some 6-uar~ntec of an equ._ql partnership.

2. 11pnli,e~

Clothing: Sa.rr.:::on reports 306 to.1s of used clothing at ntwel'J) on 2 April, where distribution was being delayed, appa1·ently throU@l uncertainty as to whom it was consigned to.

3. Personnel

HenriJ "mson, rnlfare liaison officer, a1•rived 1.t SHAEF (Belgium) l April, but left for Luxembourg the following week.

ii rat' all, ch e ... of mission, s apparent y appointed by ERO dthout consul ting Headquarters. lie w·s expected at ~russels arou.~d 7 pri_ •

. 4. Conditions

P.a.tions ere raised in ryril for t1e first time since liberation. T'ne fat ration ·Gs 800 ~rams per month in A~ril--margarine 400, l rd 200, butter 100, suet 100--compared Tiith 150 grams in Februar3 •

E. ELFARE SERVICES

l. Emergency FeedinP,

ore infon1ation is becorr,in· a.vaila le on the '.lE'en's .:essrmger units sent to Belgium from vi c~ t}e Vi bomb· b came ,orse at r·· A11) than ct London.

>

;

2

Each convoy consists of twelve Yehicles--four cc.nteens, t o ki tch ns. to food storagP vans, t'.'lo w ter tan:.:s, one 11 1 lfrire va.a11 for st f use, ru1d one u.ti i ty van. T'ir 0 t S'lch convoys werf' presented to T JRRA by the UK Hnistry of Food. UNRRA, w: th S:i.AEF 1 s consPnt, then ma e t em avail"' ble :for use in collabordion witn tllP loca authoritie£.

2. Disn!aced PPl:_'2Q.!l§.

The :BPlgia.n Government csti.rr.ates are:

ickv,· r/

Total - 670,000

Jorkers-600, 000

POi, 1 s - 70,000

Subcommittee on Welfare for Europe

TVvE/E(45 )17 8 May 1945 RESTPJ:CTED

UNITED NATIONS RELI 1W .AND REHP,BlLITATIOH .AIJl ·.TNISTRATI ON

SUBCOH'.ITTEE ON HELFARE FOR EUROPE

Country Missi. ons

ALBANIA An agreement for the provision of supplies and relief for Albania was signed on April 11th between 1:;ilitary Liaison o.nd Col. &Iver Hoxha. A small number of personnel from the UNRRA Albanian Eission will go into the country to act as agents of the Military . So far no 'Helfarc Officers have been assigned • .

BELGIUM Mr. Henry T. Samson has been attached to the SI-IAEF Lissi on to Belgium as Welfare Officer pending the establishment of a full UNRRA Hission .

CZECHOSLOVAICTA An agreement signed between the Government of Czechoslovakia and UNRRA on the 26th Febrw.ry included a supplementary agree-. ment· covering a wide range of ,;rnlfare servicas. In addition to emergency services and welfare services for special groups this agreement included schemes of rehabilitation for the physically and mentally handicapped and a programme of communal and school feeding. The two Welfare Liaison Officers for this Hission are hr. EJ..fan Rees, formor:).y Director of the South Wales Council of Social Service, who has recently returned from

.,,,~he Balkan lif.issi.on v1herc he was Director of Welfare for Albania, a'/itrs . Gertrude Gates (U.S.) who was .(\;ssistnnt Director, Bureau

of Public Assistance, Sociru. Security Board, '.-Iashington.

DENN'!ARK No UNRRA Mission has yet been appointed.

FRANCE In conjunction with tm Head of :Mission and w:i. th Officers of the E.R.o., Dr. Padley has, by agremnent with the French Government, prepared reports on conditions in Normandy, Brit­tany and Haut-Rhin. Assisted by Mme . Oungre, Dr. Pedley has interv_iewed French social workers for rocruJtnent as Welfare Officers for work in Assembly Centres in Germany • . Dr. Pedley has reported regularly on various aspects of French welfare and relief services. 1Kiss hajorie Bradford of the Ylolfare Division has been in France since 22nd i••~arch , 1945, and has cnt-ered into consultation with committees and ager:icies in the c0tmtry who are investigating tho special problems of women and girls returning from forced labour.

Subcommittee on Welfare for Europe - 2 -

TilE,/E(45 )17 8 May 1945

GREECE

LUXEliBOURG

NETHERLAHDS

NORivAY

A full report on the scope and prograro..11e of the Greek Mission is being submitted under item J(b).

An agreement was signed on the 8th 1.arch, 1945, whereby UNRRA w:i..11 furnish suppliGs and scrvL:es to a total expcndi ture of .fifty million dollars in foreign excmnge. This sum is intended to cover three main programs:-

1. Care of, and welfare ser-.rices for, children and nursing and e:cpectant mothers .

2. Assistance in the care and return to their homes of Italian refugees.

3. Provision of medical and sanitary aid and supplies .

Miss Phoebe Bannister is acting as rielfare Liaison Officer on the Mission nnd is assisted by fhre ·:Tclfo.re Specialists, five District ·;folfare Of.fie er and five 1,'folfarc Offir: i;rs at -vrork in camps.

In Naples arr~nts were I'lade for the feeding of some 50,000 children in the institutions of Naples Province .from the begin­ning of April., ,:ielfare Officers have been assigned to the proYlnc es of Lit toria., Fro sin one! !\.qu::.la) Chlct and Pescora where they will _be making prclird.ne1y ::.r:rangemcnts for supl)lemen­tary .feeding o It is hoped the f.ee..:ling p:"'ograrnrne will reach : • 1.,000,000 persons ... half of the tl)°t,E..i a.uwd at - during Hay.

The UNEPA 1·ission has no-vr returned to I,u::embourg. In the last few weeks Vr~ Samson, attached to SP.Ji.Fl'' }tL3sion to Bc:i_gium, has visited the country and has reported on t11c-J needs particular'"':' ly of ·i:,be Fr.,utern Border Distn..c-i:,3 whicr, sm'fered at th8 ti;ae of the Runs+,c-.5. push. Ers • E_lvL Co<sg·1.n :Left }),5land for Luxem­bourg in April und will serv2 n.s tn.'3 lYcl.:u'-.ce Liaison Officer to the Mission.

Hiss Cornelia Kasius, recentJ.y District Secretary, Jefferson District Corrwnmi ty Service Society 9 has been appointed as ·.relfar0 Liaison Officer to the Nc·:·,h2rl2.nds l :i.ssion and has arrived at the E.R.O, whc!'e ·,~:'1.~ ~d r->si:::11. ·;;jl~ . .=i.sse".Il.bleo Miss Kasi us w::11. be consul ting ·c.h0 :l.Ff-'r,,J.-.'.'~.·1tc N~t11Gr:tnnds authori­ties prior to the departure of: ·:-.::,lP 1 is::-.iun,

The lJ1H-?J!i1. I.:ission to Norwny is no·N being assembled in London. It is learned from Hashington th;i.t, }·r . Haro:-:..d .l~und has nm·, become available to ser..re as Helfare Liaison 9fficor on the Mission and ·;rashingt.on has been rer:_uastad •;;o arrange for l1r. Lund to proceed to London as soon as possible .

..

Subcommittee on Welfare for Europe -3-

TWE/E(45)17 8 Hay 1945

POLAND

YUGOSLAVIA

At the moment the ·Mission is assembled partly in Washington and partly in London. Owing to the death of Mr . N. Byrnes there is a vacancy on the Mission for a 'V{elfo.re Lj_aison Officer.

A full report on the present position of the Yugoslav 1;iissi on is being presented under item J(c)q

. .

(~~ iuaa Popule. ion iatricts and Camnunea

of s.ooo Populatio an oTer. cember 31• 1939

ProvincH • D11tricta Provinces. Diatricta and Cammun• Population and C Population

r-ILS. 787.9 Balen .a . An rp 271..I ndonk 7o0 O.urne 67.2 Jleerhout 6.8 or r out 54. ••r•• .o

Berohem H.9 Reraelt s.i obob s2.s j Kevor1el s.a erb• 30.2 Westerloo 5.7 Uri~ 26.3 Oud•Tur:nb.ou 5.4

19 •• Oolen s.2 17.0 16.l B bant

ren 1!5.5 t. ~ruHell 1277.8 Brauchu.t 16.3 Bruas ls ia§.o Ii.el 10.6 ohaerb• k 121.6 Remits -e.2 Ixellee 89.2 lapellen 9.1 Anderleoh: as.a Iontich 9.0 olenbeek i t•~an 62.6

110 .3 a1nt ille 69.7 lalathout 7. Uccl 53.5

deg 7.5 Etter ek 48.7 Zwi drecht 1.1 or st 46.6

rdlt 6.2 aint•Jo e•t 28.1 chout .2 Jette 27.9

uetwe.sel e.o Vllvoor e 26.0 ftjnegem 5.8 oluwe a1nt•Le rt 25.l

t $.& Waterael• o1tafort 18.7 recbt 6.3 Auder 18.3

lle 17.6 II. Mt.line• a,1.s oluwe- aint•Pierr 16.2

li.ilne■ s!.S are 16.6 Uerre 28.6 Xoekelberg 14.9

llebrook 14.7 Berohea-Se.inte•.Agath• 10.e Dutt 1 11.2 .uaohe 10.1 H iat-op-d.en•b•rg 10.1 lint•P1eters•Leeuw 9.9 Sint•latelijru, .. ve 9. Onrij1ohe 9.1 Borneta 8.8 Ganeboren s.s

rlaar e.o Opldjk 7.8 Jlijlen 6., Zavent• 7.6 Pa'tte .o . lilod.e-Saint en6ae 7.6 PUur• 6.1 erchtem 7.6

t.iedebrke 7.4 . 111. !umhwt 229.0 1lbeek 7.2 Turnhout So.1 GriJl.bergen 7.1 Geel 21.0 LonderH•l 7.1 Jlol 11., Jfaohelen e.1 Henntal■ 11.1

Province,, D1etr1ota and C ..

eek ..... 1

iebroek trcabeek• ov r

II. Louva· Louvain T'rlemqn

aeel-Loo ev rlee

achot est

lterent ervur n l ele

III. llivelle 11 elles B.ratne-11All cl fubiae Wit.Tre lilterloo

,t Flan4era f. !ii~ ..

Torhout Aaaebroek . 1.nt•AndriH

0

~lanlatnberge Ooatlaatp int•lrui•

Beiat Beernea

Il. Di:amde loetelu•• lort r

III. !'Rt• · pre,

Poperinge nt.k

Cadne■ Gel\lft

l iunu Population 0£ D11trich and OlllllUXl. of s.ooo PopulatiOD and over, I>eceabe:r 11. 183 (oont•d)

Pro inoe•• l>iatricia opulat1on and Camnune,

IV. Courtrai Courtrai

OUIOl"OD enen

Uar lbeke lgea a • reg• s1.o ZnTeg•

22.1 Beule l • Kuurne ll.7 Deerlilcjk 10.2 era-.u.i:

.6 l&un

.1 Gulle e 6.3 Dott 6.l 4Telg•

182.2 v. ""I2.s 12.0

.o •

1.1

VI. Itoulera 191.4 oulera K1.s ,,. 8lll 11. lngelmuuter 10. eke 10.5 Ardooie 9.6 Licb.tervelde 7.9 oonlede 1.6 Sta en 7.5 6.7 VII. fielt s., Tielt

lleulebeke 47.1 • 6.8 .Rui■eled .o Ooatrooaebeke

120.1 VIII. Furne, is.1 fiini•■ 12.4 lieuport 12.1 7.8 6.6

Pc?Pula. ion

•• 21.1 12.2 1-2.0 12.0

1.9 7.6 1.8 1., 1.0 6.8 ., 6.2 6.0

106.7 60.I" 1.1 5.6

.4 s., 120.s So.a 1a., 8.6 7.7 .~

.4 ., 5.8

72.7 12.6

9.7 1.2 6.8 6.2

s.a --rr:,

5.f.

n.

III, Eeklo ~ ldoo Malde e Zelaate J.11ened•

IV. nd bind Sint•.A-.ndaberg Gent rugge Ledeb r er lbeb

iv rem u.rsehoot

.A.alter 11

Oo1ta r Tronchienn

r Moerbeko DeinH •

Bl iuaa Population of Diatr·ots and Camraunes of 5.000 Population ad over.

c r 31. 1939 (oon 'd)

opulat1on

.9 5.6 .1

l 7.1 •

15.9 15.7 ll.6

.4: •

• G.3 .a

r..5

77.2 n:! 11.9

g • ., 5.6

•sz.o 1sz.o 20.6 19.1 11.6 10.2 10.2

7.3 1.2 1.2 1.1 e.e 6.0 s. 6.7

Prov!n •• i triet e.n c une1

v. Au rde liena.lx Au nar •

derbrakel i houtem

I.

II. rl roi Jllllet Cnarleroi Gilly

on 1 nies llar-ohlenne Maroinelle Cbttelin•u Couroelles Chltelet Couill t Ilampr•~ Jlont•Sul"-! rohienne Lodelin..,.t

mart roi nne

oux llonceau•aur-8aabre 00Helie1

Population

11 .7 26.5 6.6 s.a s.o

1 o.o 42.f 25.6 13.4 13.0 8.6 6.8 6.6 s.a 6.l

0.6 To.4

f35.8 28."f 28.2

· 24.6 re 24.0

21.7 20., 11.9 l ,5 14.9 12.8 12., 11.4 10.5 10.1 10.1 10.1 e.e 9.8

7.7 ., I.

., n-;r

lU. • I.

l • 12., 12.0 11.,

.11.a 10.a 10.,

'1.8 •

5.7 • • • 2

il ., ut• 22.1 J'IUlde 1 .5 o.a

1 .o .o Pie:rre1 .1

1.8 1., XI. enters 240. len 1.1 Vervler l!.I 6.2

• !'huln •rlue1 ,.o inch• •• Canalere1

6.8 Korla .. la 5.8 be 1:- . ..,.. 6 • um 6.6 s.1

eor I

Llabou.rg !. J1&11elt

Genlc ... it

aiut•Trond e senderloo i p nbNk ur •I.to ol

Zo ouc

I

Ile Ill.a eik mi

111. Ton~re, T res Eil n Lane.kt= ilke?l

Population

70.2 .I

196.2 27.0 21.0 11.2

1.1 6.9 6. 6.5 .1

6.0

95.l rr.o

1.1 6.4

• 5.4

129. 12. a.2 5.9 s.2

II.

. II.

rio sand and cv r,

• tion

1.3 1r.7

.7

40.3 .1

85. 6. .1

212.6 32.6

6 •

•

'

B LG I U

Jan-Albert Gori Belgi in Bondag. L.B. Fi : r Publish Company, 1944.

Gr at Britain, D pe.rtment of Overs s 'l'r de Report on Economic Con itione in elgium. (pamphlet )" 115 p. (Annex on Luxembour ) • June 1937

Le gue of ations _blio tions European Cont rence on Rural Li! drawn up by G-0varnments. Bel 1 Geneva 19.39.

1939. o. 2 tion l ono raphs , League of ations Publications.

L or Conditions in elgiwn u •• &lreau of L bor tatistic, a hington, 1944. Review, bruary, pp. 2 29

Int rna.tional Labour Of fic.

'onthly Labor

Int rnational u.rvey of .;looial " rvica 1933. 2 volwn e. Vol. 1 pp 69-125. lational Monograph on elgiwn; ibid 112-125

League ot Nation• iw))wk Pro le of Nutrition. Vol. III, utrition in Various Co ntries

271 pp. rl a of L gle ot Nations Publications II, onomic inanci 1. 1936 II B 5. Geneva 1936

Le u of ations Child elf Into tion Centr ( ries of Lea e or tions ublication1 IV Social. 1941 IV 3). .33. G neva, 1941

Int rnatioaal Labour Office International Survey ot Social S 1·vices 1933. 2 Volume • ol. I, PP• 69-lll: ational ono lgium. Geneva 1936

Co at ce Kiehel. · Un ployment Insur ce in Belgium. tional. Velo ent of the Ghent

and Lie Sy■tem.a. New Iorlu lndu trial Relations Coun elors, Inc. 1932. pp • .xiv an 509

Lea ,, • ot ations: Child eltare Committee Institutions ror erring and delinquent minors. 253 p. (pp 59-64). Series or League of Nations Public tions IV Serial 1934. IV 1.

League ot Natio111 Th • Placing ot Children in Families. Vol. I and II. Geneva 19,38. Vol. II, pp 59-69, Belgi •

Le gue of Na.tio111r Child eltare Information Centre. A.nnual Report on Child elfare tor the Fourth aion or the ;dvisory Committee on ocial uestions (6-24-1940), pp. 44-54. Series ot League or Nation Publications IV erial. 1940 IV. neva.

Kenneth Holland Youth in European Labor Camps. A Report to the erican Youth Commission.

(American Council on Education, 1939, ashington, D.C. pp xii and 302) See chapter on Camps in other Countries. pp 269-270

Sav the Children Fund Children in ndag, pp 11-19.

Mary Dabney Davia Young Children in European Countries. U.S. Office or Education. pp 22-24. ashington, 1936

Henri Velge Oeuvre Nationale de 1 1Enta.nce: Rapport sur l'activite de l'Oeuvre Nationale de l'Enfance. Bruxell s, 1932

Periodicals such as: Th ew■aiwt conomist, London The Fortnightly Review Pour la Viotoire Business eek For ign Affairs New Statesman and ation, etc., etc.

Restricted Sources

(U.S.) litary Hand.books on Belgium. (British) Basic Handbook on elgium

Intellig nee mat rial made available by the Belgian Government on: elfare services, social insurance

Articl s published in News fro Belgium oniteur Belge

Provinces, Diatrieta and CCIIUllUiles

Hoeilaart Lem.beek Wemmel Ruiebroek Strom.beek•Bever

II. Louvain Louvain Tirlemont Keaael-Loo Beverlee Aarachot Dieat Herent Tervuren Wlls•l•

III. Nivelles livelles Braine-1 1Alleud Tubir.e Wavre waterloo

West Flander, I. Brugee

Brugea Torhout J.aaebroek Sint-Andrie1

• Knolcke Blanlmnberge Ooatku.p Sint•Xruis Heiat Beerna

II. D1Dlllde loekelare lortemark

III. Ypr;a pree

Poperinge W.rvilc Caminea Gelun

Belgium1 Population of Districts and Communes of 5,000 Population and over, December Sl, 193~ (oont• d)

Provinces, Districts Population an(l Com.m.une

IV• Courtrai Courtn.1 Mousoron Meenen !larelbeke

evelgem 309.4 \faregem 37.0 Zwevegem 22.1 Heule 14.6 Kuurne 11.7 Deerlikjk 10.2 Heraeaux

8.5 l&uwe 8.1 Gullegem 6.3 Dott 5.1 .A.velgem

182.2 v. Ostend 12.9 6stenae 12.0 Breedene

9o0 Eernegem. 8.5 Ichtegem 7.1 Steene

VI. Roulers 191.4 Roulers st.a Tsegftl. 11.8 I:r:igelmunater 10.6 Rumbeke 10.6 Ardooie 9.6 Liohtervelde 7.9 llooralede 7.6 Staden 7.5 6.7 VII. Tielt 6.4 Tialt

Meulebeke 47.3 W1ngene 6.8 Ruiaelede s.o Ooetroo1ebeke

120.1 VIII. Furnes 16.1 Fi.irnes 12.4 Nieuport 12.1 7.8 5.6

Population

n thouae.n s 268.4 41.3 3i.4 21.7 12.2 12.0 12.0

7.9 7.6 7.6 7.4 7.0 6.8 6.4 6.2 6.0

106.7 6b.S 7.7 5,.6 5.4 5.4

120.3 so.t 16.4 8.6 1.1 6.9 6.4 6.4 5.3

72.'T if:!' 9.7 '7.2 5.8 6.2

43.3 -rr;'f

6.4c

Provinces. D11trict1 and Cam.munea

East Flanders t. lloat

llost Grammont Ninove Erembodegem Lede Denderleeuw Zottegem. Baaltert Denderhoutem

II. Termonde Wetteren Hamme Zele Lebbeke Term.ond• Sint-Oillis•bij-

Dende onde Buggenhout ll&aarode Waaunmster Berlar

III. Eekloo Eekloo Jfaldegem Zelsate Aaaened•

IV. Ga.nd Giind Six:.xt-Amandaberg , G ntbrugg• Ledeberg Jlerelbeb· Evergem. aarachoot

Aalt r elle

Ooatakker Tronohiennea Zuier Koerbeke Deins•

Belgiuma Population of Diatriots and Communes of s.ooo Population and over1 December 311 1939 (cont'd)

Provinoe1 1 Diatricta Population and Communes

Sleidinge 234.3 ahtebeke 41.3 Wondel em 11.6 Destelbergen 11.2 Looohristi 8.7 8.2 v. Audanarde 7.0 Bene.ix 5.9 Audenarde 5.6 Nederbrakel 5.1 Kruishoutem

157.1 VI. S~int-Nioolas 18.8 Saint-Nicolas 15.9 Loker~n 15.7 Te.mise 11.5 Bevcren 9.4 Stekene 9.3 Sint-Gilli • aas

Kruibeke .6 elsele

6.3 ,sinaai 6.3 5 .5 Hainaut

I. Ath 77.2 ~ 'Is."! 11.9 II.· Charleroi 9.7 JU1Aet s.s Charleroi

Gilly

Population

11 .7 25.6 a.s 5.8 s.o

180.0 42.2 25.6 13.4 13.0 8.6 5.6 5.5 s.s 5.1

80.6 lo.4

435.8 28.8 28.2 24.5

433.0 Montignies•Sur-S&111.bre 24.0 isz.o llaroh1en.ne-au•Pont; 21.7 20.6 Maro1nelle 20.4 19.1 Chttelineau 17.9 11.6 · Couroellea 16.5 10.2 Chltelet 14.9 10.2 Couillet 12.8

7.3 Dulpremy 12.4 7.2 Mont-SUr-Karohienne 11.4 7.2 Loclolinaart 10.6 7.1 Ranaart 10.1 s.a Fa.roiennea 10.1 6.0 Roux 10.1 6.9 Moneeau-eur-Sambre 9.8 6.7 Gosaeliea 9.8

•• D11tr •

•• •

• 'D;J

III. • • x •

1 .o 1,.,., 1s. 12., 1 .o 11., 11.1 0.1

l .. , .. • . ,

6 .1

2·. IO. 10.1 10.0

.o ,1 , .. ,., Ill.

1e 7.1 .a

• • um .. ,

• IiiLrl•• ,. lnch• Ca.mare, &.t

1&Jarela 6.1 1ne ..... 1n lie8

!ll'ldn 4t

IV. 1'l.r Saint ore

Liabouli I. :L11elt

Genk Hasaelt Saint•Trond Teuenderloo D1epenb e)c Bour -L6opold Zonhouen H usden Koer el

II. llaueik Lcnmel Jlaaaeik Overpelt eerpelt

Br e

Ille Tongrea !o r Ehden Lanaken .Alken

Popul tion of Diatriota and of 5,000 Populat·on and w r, 31, 1939 (cont'd).

Population

70.2 Luxembour 6.1 i. Irion

Arlon At ua

196.2 27.0 II. Baato n 27.0 Basto<;,ne 17.2

1.1 lfamur 6.9 1. binant 6.9 Dinant 6.5 Ciney 6.1 6.0 II. Bamur

ur 96.1 J bes ~ Auvela.i

7.1 Sai - rvai 6.4 Ando • 5.8 Ta.mines 5.4 Ge lowc

129. 12.8 a.2 5.9 602

Population

1.3 rr;,,

.1

4.0.1 6.1

85.9 .§

5.7

212.6 32.5

9.8 8.3 7.9 7.7

.4:

.s

c. I.

II.

•

• I

II.

•

lcn

l1la 1 )

(

atfl tat.cl I

ol 1oolatlone

olea

ie■

'l'Ni,M.~ .. ( 1tan .. OM) tlwa

ol\D'l11iary ooln1•• tor

Plau ot fllllmt (tra ~l'01 ... ) .

ot lab.

le■

Tim SECOURS D1HIVER

The Sooours d'Hiver is dirocted by a central bod¥, tho Executive Ce tni.l

Ca!lllittee. This ca:E>.ittoo • beaded by a president, · is COD1I>0&ed of the different

director-a or the main tunotiotlO.l diviaiona ( rtementa Contre.ux) • and ~ varioua

personalities chosen beoe.uae of their technical conpetence in aame apeoial fields.

The Central Executi..,. CCIIIDlttee ooordimtes the aotivit1ea or the functional.

divisions · and eontrole the local ecanittees funotioni under ita authority. The

.runctioml diviaiom are the ~ollow'i ~,

I

Distribution Propaganda Inapeotion and control Health and H 7giene Fine.nee,

Aa was mentioned befare. the Central EDcutive Camzd.ttee controls also the.

I activities of the provinc· l ommttees -which exist in eaoh province, ~xcept for ,.

and nov.11ea) take the place of th provincial committee. In eaeh oail!I.UXle,.

finalq._ a local camdttee is operating.

BBc:1.:. ,ienta of the Secoura D'River t>urGg. th )'ear 19'2 - 191! tho total mabar- of persom aaaiated by the

Secours 4'Hiffr was approximately 1.soo.000 1.e. ou.t of 1even Bel im citiaena

Jmll"O than one received help frca the Seooura d'lliver. Becipienta of the Secoura

d'River are olaeaitied into five categories acoordiz:,g to the extent o.f the11"

med•• At the tm or their claaaif1cat1on into om o£ these five oategor1•••

the applloa:b.t receive a •peoial oard. which qualifie1 them aa belonging to om

or the five oategcriea of a.1ebted citizen.a. On the other ham. thoao persona

, , children on Belgian farm.a• Thi• orge.nt1at.t.on, ~ u the At.de Ft.yeanne aux

Jnf'ant1 dea oll••• toum ao caaocl&tion ill th• ounti-,y tor 1,059 ohildJ'en in

1941• and tor about ,,ooo dill ren in th• t1rat ■even 110ntha ot 19'2. on

tnditterenoe ot t&l"llen to the pl'oj ct.

Children•• 0114&1 in a.zw.nz. Ge~ ha• l'•c 1n4 laz-ge nuaber• ot ohi.ldJWn

tw holida~ w.rylng iD; 1• th b-Qli •lx -•kl o two llO:ath•• lul e.tt.ate1

plaoo the• nurabe at ..o.ouo to so.ooo tor th t1rat three 1wa1n or oooupation. Fi.rat preference tor the•• T11lt1 ii inn to the oblldren of

legionar1e1 or ot Belgian workera in 0.rm&XlJ • Children au,t be between the

ac•• o£ t.n and lfu Th y- are aoo<npanied to Ge rr., by Belgian and ran

ahaperone, ot both ■exes. On arrival., they are billotted on tar.nus or in 1-.J.l

•teri plaoea • adrt1edly. lor they t en be put to work bJ day in th•

tielcla • Children are •l•;r• lodged wt th· tailiea holcU the purest Bui Ti-• Pro-German organllationt• e1peoially. BeYlag., and of OO\U"le1 the Gel"III.~

the olv••• ab wide uae tor propagank purpo■e or th11 example ot German

•gemroa 1 ty• •

po.y for thoir l 0 of o0'1l only fr. ereaa the bearer of a p~ co.rd with

two or three arn ould have to ~ . for the ece.l 20 rr. e.nd el 1 other

.raoipiGnta of 0081 ould have to buy h cool from the S-ocours d' .... iver at the

officially ~d p ioe.

To i another e._ple of: the 1'unot1on1q:; of the d1etribut1on ayatan of'

the SeoOUJ"e d'Hiver,. let's ta}, the distribution of olothiJ:l&. Under the deviaed

aobeme the tint two cat goriea will only p 20% ot the price tor the

arments reoeived and tho third and fourth categories will pay 40% ot the

Pra a total or 1.300.000 beheficiariea of tho Secoura d'IIi-wr 25% are

en cnrda (deatitutea re iatered under t,tarx publ1e ae•iatance ohem)

a>% 1».w p:nk ca.rd■ with -cm,e croaa, 40% have p1nk earda with two Ol"<>B••• lo;:

law pink carda with three o~••• and ~ have pink cards with four croaea.

The t ival of Eoonc;:rl.c AotivitjY

Tho rev1w.l of eoonomio ct v ty and

ere duo, a~ state above,

ronbsorpt1on of l&bour

ce to & widupre d Belgian

trlot1c duty. holi f t.1.ut to ros

At thi first ata: c alco

ppe roncc, tho firet rly

ps began to make their

Jull• 17th, 1940, at Lual,

in nlloo Bra

1·0 to obte. n t enc of n who would &Hist in the

to:te<l rcns, to provido useful occupation for the

count · - ospeoi~ly for UllfllllPloyod demobilise •n • and to

ti on.al oducll.tt---...------

ln pre r Bel 1\llll all quo t1ons r lnti.,.. to tho cm:oloyment Qi' manual

ln our :re ht.\ndlo by the ,htio plo 1XJ1nt E ohc.nco (L' Offioe tional

du Ple.c t et du Chair.ge) (soe Part I, Chapter XII). This was ,mder the

control or thEi 1niltry cf labour and Social Seourity.

Dolr.'.. n Tro.de•':Jnioniem.

The majority of t'ne Trade Un1onti rotuaed to co-open-.t, •

0 -Little ~ little, un r hi d1rootion, the Dureau ..,rewr 1nto a at

or •aniee.tion with ram1!'1ont1ona thrC>Ut;hout the oo\l!Itey •erving as reoruiting

offioos tor workers for the Geni11.n:, and tn tho eich itself. Hendrick■

gan by oanpletely reoranili ,. tho Bureau on the model or the Gel'llall

Ro-1chtarbe1taamt. ~nd again ohaneini; its no.me. On y 10th, 19'1• it bee.­

the " tional labour Bureau" (Office tiomll du Tm 11 • or OM). nd wa1

developed into e. amplotely ind pendent department with Hendricks aa ita

e.ffeotive dictator., Ile;, -de OllT an inetrumont or dictator hip over Belgian

lAbour AM tb.o fc.to of ovor:r BolgiAi; trol'"kcr.

The ohioi" 1nstnamt of proasw-e reed to !Iondriclal' hand was the

labour Bureaux• autnoriaed oontrol ot uneplO"JIHnt benefit•• Th.• , bnn e1tabl1ehed for the po•t•inw.e1on period by decree~ of the Seontarie1

General of June 15th and July 14th. 1940. The ONT ■ucooeded to the oontrol

ot all 'benefit• paid to the wholly or PL rtie.lly unemployed, (Thie ••

.J

•

■peoii'ioa.lll' aot out in an ord•r or la 17th• 194:!• whereby publto

au stAn.Ce comiau1ona ore forbiddeu to pe. any unem~lP-nt benefit•

>without coneent of th OiIT .)

1u.tion.•

The norvioe was <livid9d into throo la.rte ctione 1

•

(a} The a.da.' niatnition (Adrn1ri1atre.tion)~ \il'h it conccrnod wt.th ro•

~it1 poreonnel and tho control of: the r .,::;ione.l Q.lll loccl le.bow- of' ious •

(b) Tho re 00ulatio. of labour ( ft.;;io , ue t · 11). the ch1et roapon •

ib1l1t1ea of W'hioh are tho labour rl:et nn_d tho plaoi "' or wor'· re. "'

(o) Alaistauoo (Secoure), ·r'.a.ioh devote tnolf to unemplOl,nent

benefits and the control or tho unemplo:,-ed.

Th om funotionit thro"Ugl re ional and loa.il labour of'ficos (otf'ioea

du Travail., or ). In principlo tho o a lnbour office in ~ch separate

arrondi sesnent having l.6,000 r' or or ovor. The labour 0£.!'ioea exero1ae

a certain indopondenc.1, ha.vi their own t'1l.6 .. and th ?" ons1b111ty for

tho atate ot the labour . rkot in the e.:roe. 'Which 'in.a boen aseig. od to them,

!11 thoao e..r-eo. ,he~ thu umber of W<>rbra is ot considerable b~oh .

offices or acenoi r~ sub1tituted for n rc,,.ulo.r lo.bour office. A ranoh

office .funotio like e.n or but ia aubordimte in the- tter of adlldnia•

tration,

.i.h<> Third I:ha.10 t Fra1 C ulaion to OJ orln~n

t tho ond or 1941 he numbc;n• or Belgie.ne ,1b.o had ai ,ned contro.ots for

Gernany wo.s aetimat d at 2so,ooo, but by the suame1· or l!Kt2 only an dditicmt.l

60.,000 re res.;iate • The total at July 4th, 1942. a eatimto at

Antwel"J) Falt Fle.1 dere raba.nt

West Flan ers · Hainaut Lilte Wmbure l.tulembourg ?btl.ilr

Uumber

70,066 68.761 65,614 46,224 32.580 16.6:55 ,,oe2 2,.&01 1~624

/

The great _majority of thoae rkora oa=o from tho,o provinces or which

tne partioula.r 1ndustr1G$ ha en most atfeotod by tho oconcaio 11Jea1uro

reaultin.'.5 ran the oocupat ,uw aa tho textilo induatry in •lauden, the

doc~rd work and vc. industries of Antwerp, tho luxury induatriea 1n

11Ll.w.nt.

•.. ! Wagea in Belgium were ori inally "trot.en" after the oecu.po. ·ion t the

l•vel of y, 194.0, by e. deoN of t S.~rott:.ri a-aon rril of A Ult 0th.

oth r the bo e nny reuaonnblo rel tion to th-0 oost of - i vi 1r·

at that timo is of little impo1•ta11co beQ u Go comnnndoori ~ 0£

camnodi iea oanbined with th huge ,sums in lcian money i,xtcrted s coeta

of oocupc.. tion ■po dil)" to11t prioe rising, whilo. ~n 1n.flo.t1omry tenuancy ot

the currency deproa ed pureha iDt; pcwor. '.:hi p ou.)SS co:.f.;1 "J.B • unt"l trike■

brok out in· y, ln<rl. Th -- Yr c rcmoted b cccnanio con iona nd not

at th tin, by pol1t1oal oonaid rat1cma. Dy daorE- of 2Sl;~1.

ino od by 8 per oent., a mtltc.noaua ndjurs~nt of f: ily allc:1'U8.n

oringinc the tat l. bemf:1.t up o 10 pe~ ce~t, Thar.i inort>&aos wero o..lraa.dy

quite naut!'ioient, a taot o .... th1cli omployors themacl1tos vroro well o.-.mre, ao

the.t they aou t to got r d the prohibiti n on rther iuoroasoe by dhtri•

bu'~itig t1ona to their rmon, by providin,s "bl~ok rket" £ood in oantoona,

and by me.kine to the wo~n eo-oalled "adVM.oeo" ~ioh in thoor-J ,ren, to

be repaid •a£ter tho war So far' u poaaible these evaa1ons of the

•~t1on to tho enoro.l prchibi. ion# in tho oase or ooal•inin.r;, the Sldner1'

paiy be1 inorea.aed bet-.v-een zo and 30 per cent. This wo.a due to the need

ot t.be . G(trmane for tlie aaximum. poaaible ooal output. Th• net effect,. in ~

caae was expeoted to be to drive worker either into uoh Delt;1a ocoupo.tiona

u tho GQr&lll for hoir o.ni purposes desired to 81&e fully emplorod, abd ln

'tW•ee.som.ble conditions were allowe to prevail• or

hom -to ••voluntoer" fer eor"V'ice in Ge~ when, oom1t1ona

so lntlch more :i'nvouruble •

PUBLIC LFAaE

B. After July 19'0

Publio Aal11tance. The d11tn.bution ot publio u■i■ti.noe gn.r:it1 to nee peraona coepitt• ii .tll entrusted to the public a111l~oe / · ulet1 oommune 1n the

country. Th •• ccmdttees alao ndle th gn.xrt■ •d• to the WMhllDloytd

trom publlo a11utance ftmd■ \mder the ,u rvlllon ot th• o ,

•. In Ootober 19'2, 517,701 per,ona, dra,m fr 198,lll f Uie1 reo•1wd

public a11ll_tanoe grant • cipienta • oat llUIQIU''OUI 1.n the 1nduatn

provtnoea, a• 1hown by the followi ,f1gureat

Province,

Iialmut Brabant Antwerp Ea.at Planclera L1'ge Weit Flande~, Junuo . Livow-g l.usembow-

•ber ot 1llee oe1v1!1fi R liet

49 616 41 071 28 060 25 67 28 692 15 577 6 Ill 3 270

91'1

her ot Peraona Ba oei v1, Belief

82 OI$ 62 2S0 52 012 46 572 4,6 628 29 9U 8 96' 8 68? 18'8

nt •• ttrled in dittennt

OOlllllWWle In the aore thickly populated areu it ba.1 1tood at lS tro,, a 4q '

tor the bead ot the tas.~, five h-ot. fOJ' the ..U • and le6 tor eaob ohl14

Ubler 15 )'eua ot age. · COIMVnSty

I .t•r I authoritiea and oommitteesap,tnU•u have, organ1aed t'"e ... 1,,

IOllp Jdtobena, 1cbool oantoena, •to.

_s._1, .. 1_a_n,_1te_d_croe_,_,_. bu gN&tl:r extended 1t■ aotiv1t1e1 a1noe the war, baa 1peoia1•

Ued. ln gi'ti:ng a11btanoe to prt■onera ot war 1n a.~ and to their tlllll.1••,

ha■ &110 been partioularq aotlw in the field ot ohild welfare, •rl"ied out lt■

.ta■b with patriottla and deTOtlon. In 1plte of abudve attaoka' ot the go-,e~t•

oontrolled p-•11• the Bid. Croaa rendera ooneiderable aemoea to the Belgian

people. Thete ••moe, wen Pllb11oly reoognt1ed by the ICt.ng ln a letter to

it• preli4ent.

Seooun 49Hinr. Seoour■ d•Hiwr or lflnter Help Ozogam.aatlon ia Nlpo~i ble ff#

oolleotlng fund1 throughout the oountey tor the n11ot and a1al1tanoe ot all

,.

thoae who have ,uttered through the war. lt it al10 n1po111ible tor the 41.atrlbu•

tion of th••• tuna,. It 11 tbe onl:r organlaatlon allowed to oolleot aoner, ooll•otS.OM by U\Y other organiaation being forbidden •

• After July 1

blio ualatano• =• pore

tt .. irt1 0 1n the

tr publl

In

publ1 a11S..

provlnoea, u •h

Provin 1

LS.6 " W.at Flander, .... Ll"IOIU'g tumabour

er

re

.nt• -e 1uper."'V1elon ot

• fr 1

oat n

\

to

he

,.

~ \.IDIIJllpl

• l1e• reoet

e lnduatrial

2 OIi 62 2SO 5 012 • 5'12 4 628 2 911

a rled in dittel"rit

01111une• • In •

CIII" the

lt 11t

t..S.1,, nw troa. tcr the wit•• and •

at tro. a

J! 1 ,-&J'I of a • c .... mst,r 21 ltt I a ont1 I and tt IS ·····•~-~h--~•tw• - ha

la,

1.ta aotlvltlo1 11noe • ar, • 1peoal•

il4'4 111 gin u,11 n to 11on1n ot •r ln Ot-•:nv u4 to th ir tud:U.ea,

ha1 tlao been 1oular}¥ aotlw 1n the tleld ot ohlld wlh.re, oarri d mt it■·

oontrolled pre11, • ..

pe91>l•• !be•• •"1.o.■ wre pub11o~ oognt1ed by the in a letttr to

it• pre■tunt. -

all

thoM ,itio haw 1\itteNcS thralllffl the.,.. It 11 al10 re1ponalble tor the at.attbu-

tlon f)f. th.ff• tuni11. lt 11 the ~ orp!luatlon a11Clll9d t oolleot lftft?II.,,., Mtion bes.~ fcrb1dden.

was The eooun d1H1Wf ON&te ln ut\llD 1840• but 11 then an al1aolst

ocnp1et oha hae n reported 111 the neral attlt t~ lt. At

the out1et t

(1) -· lled cm th J'IMm Wlnterh11te.

(I) un:ri .... 1n of it• leadtn lmp!Jt wry little oontldenoe.

I

1'b• tir1t Olmpalgn the IOC>lrl 4 'B1 ftl" did not

b7 o_._,.

with &1lf ■UOOIII•

but 1111 th ea:rlT part ot 19'1, a .waay evoluti 1n the •ooun a• tver

bt tnOld..

(1) Inome tu now tnolude• .n e.d 1tt0Dlll oontZ"S. bubion tor

lncca1a ot 1.000 tn.no, to 6,-000 troa. per aonth., tor ill9tanoe, are abarp4

111.tb oontnbutiona w.eyt trcm m bano to '5 tr. Banb and buaine11 houe••

.,. al10 apeoially tue4, ud a 1peoial 1n:y ot 0.1 per nt hM n added

o the tnmm1111on tax.

1-• ot oultbate4 land•

1'11'1"• art taxo at th rate of 10 rr. per

S.OOUH 4 •Hi '9ff plaoed a .., lheh.,'1~17•

Thi• lottery• the 4ft1r tw whtoh take• pla nthly, pay1 '10, 2 priu1

(1ntctW.tlon d.at1 trca ii 1 2), lnoludl a fl pd.lie ot I ailllon

h. am • ••oOZ¥1 priH ~ OM ldlllcm tr. en 4n.w b • 1A .. mt profit l

~o thll 8eoour1 41 wr., after ~zit pr1 .... taOJ11t1':f and ezpem••• ot about

Jlina Jld.lllon tr. or All am:wal ffftDUe ot ..-e than 100.000,000 tr.

(I) Volunta17 eu'blorlptlona ontribut• larpJ.7 to the~ ot tm 800\ll'I

4•W.wr and in d.dltlon, lt re•1•• larp Jl\llber1 o~ ltta in ldDcl• 1oth1 ,

wwtabl•• and ID fcrth.

(t) All goodl oom"11 te4 by the publS.o authon.tle1 trm laok arb1a

4-il•r• art banded orer to the coura ct•Htwl'ttlheDITtr po,1ible the1e -"

41strlbute4 clireatlJ to tlw poor• .Utenatlffly• tbe;y N •ol4 and tbl

~ patcl into the tunda ot the S.eom-1 4'Hlwr.

(6) l\illel'OUI 1'et••· ,a1a •• and ID m. in ald ot the Beooura 1HiflP are

ancmged th~ the oomst17 by tM 1-titutls and lt1 bnnob caalttffl

alto by private orgamu.tlona.

(6) Th ecounl d•Hiver noOi I eub idle fr publ1 authorit1 •

Activitie • th eooura d'H er loye 1te funde 1ther to altnute

individual diet:ress, or to a111at ol aootio ot h population •• .,

children. It acta 1th r throu it, own 2,5 lo C tteet or thro the

d Croe, the o ild welfare organ11at10 , the s,ooiat1one for th aick &nd

· die bl d and so toi-th•

lno ita ate.bl1aml1!nt, th S cou 41H1ver h • 1pent conaide bly on

than a bilU.on tr-.

th following ti a published by the or.;anisation to give a

piotu" of its ctivit,r in l942t

600 000 tona f coil dittribut d •. 12 000 OCO me l• ,upplied tn oanteena, echool1, to. 11 000 000 1. t lk 41■t:r1buted to chlldrlln nd old people.

260 000 paroola aent to prl1oner1 or wvi. · 680 000 000 Titudn tablet, d11tributed

90 000 1. ot ood•liver oil diatrl.buted to children, 104 000 000 tr. allocated to urioua charities.

ubtt&ut.ia addition to t furnilhed by the public u■ietanoe cCD'llitte •• '

Child JS re and Countey Roli y1 • Speo1al t'fOl'ts ba'Ye be n ma.do 1ino

the war to or~ct holid&;y1 and re1t riode n the country for th children

ot tho it ••

organisation in the country ot h0118t tor child n

In 1942 • 201000 ) ~ Al.10 1natitut1o

Je ••• de lac 1x Rouge, Boy Soout an irl Guid Organ1aat1ona, Poyer, de

teopol III• Pro Juventute ovement, have organiHd

country hol1daya tor town children.

p ol" hott le to prOTide

A oertain number of Belgian oh1ldr•n - about 91000,., hav apent holiclaye

tf TU'yi length in Switaerlanct.

S..clith C0111111ttM organl&ed but depu-ture d1d not take pl&oe, beoe.u,e

0.l"JD&U Nt'uaed peral11ion tor th••• vh~t•• oney railed in a.den waa u1ed

to eatabli■h the "Hcaa Altrld• tor ohildnn.

Speoial OJ'g&niaation ha■ been ■et up to un.n • tor ttw billetting ot on

ohildnn on Belgian t,

ion in the aunt t 1,.05 11 Dill

ldNll iil th tint '"911 monthl ot 9'2.

ot tan.en o t proj •

Children' a 01!49! ln 9!!!!:&• oermu.:y bu NC lff la • ll r• o 114"

tor ho114a 'J TU')'l 1 le

pl.a tbe■t•

o two xrbh•• l e.tmtea

l"'I

oo :tlon. int · pretennoe to th •• -rt1lt1 11 tv to the

le orarle1 or ot l 1an wor re l .

• •ter:1 pl.a • • adviaedly • IOI' bfl'

ttelda • Chll n an al•ya 1

y an 111

then put to • k bJ daf ln the

lloe hol

ae, the nnana

th 1-na • lllllm wide Ule tor ropaganla purp e1 ~ tble oampl• at Ge

gentJ'Ol1ty•.

(

PUBLIC i'ELF'ARE IN BELGIUM

OBSERVATIONS.

IN BELGIUM, AS IN MOST OF' TH

8£~ A£ AR0£0 AS A UNIOIPA~ 0 0 NAL ~UNCTION, ANO AS UOH I PAAT

F TH LOCAL ELJr-GOV£RN ENT CHEM£. HoWEVER,TH£. CENTRAL V RNMENTAL

AUTHORITY PARTICIPATES PAATICIPAT 5 IN THE ADMfNISTRATtON Or ELFAR IN

TWO WAftl

(A) VO TROL AND GUPEAVf tON OF Wa.FARE fNSTITUTIONS AND

SERVICE A PART 0~ THE COUNTRY' GENERAL ADMI I TRATtVE

STRIJOTUIU:; AND

(a) av SUBSIDIES--EITHER DIRECT SUB 101£9 TO LOCAL WELYARE

A NCI SAND ERVIC , OR V SUB fDfES TO THE LOCAL wtL­

~ARE euo ET, OR ev ue IDIES TO THE LOCAL BUDGET.

h I AL O UNDEA 1'000 THAT TH L GAL BAS ts OF TM£ WEU'ARE STRUCTURE IS

LAID OOWN 8V THE CENTRAi,. Q0V£ANM~ AND THAT TH£ E LAWS ARE UNIFORM

THR UQHOUT THE COUNTRY.

A• LEGAL BASIS. THE LEGAL BASIS OF' OOIAL WEU'AAE. BELGIUM IS THE

JuaLt0 l!SISTANCE ACT OF 10 MARCH 1926, wHIOH REGULATE$ ASSISTANCE TO

THE I OIQr.ff• FR~ MEDICAL TREATMENT AT HOME, AND tN CURATIVE IN TtTU­

TIONS. THI ACT REPLACED NUMEROUS LEGAL A£ ULATIONS AND OROI ANCES

ISSUED ON 1'H OBJECT OF SOCIAL WELF E+SIN0£ l:H£ PRENCH REVOLUTION.

TH LAW ~I..AO£S ASSISTANCE TO THE INDIGENT, EXCEPT IN SPECIAL 0AS8S

ANO WH •~,a~•~ISHED CHAAtTA9LE tNSTUTtONS 4RE CONCERNED, UNDER THE

CCINVNAL AUTHORITIES. TH£ I.AW 01"' f0 MARCH 1926 COVERS A WtDE RANGE OIi"

su•Jte • fT JMMEDIAT£ 08JECTtVES WERE (t) TO 00 OfNAff PREVIOUS

LtolSLATtON CONCERNING ALMSHOUSISe SOCIAL WEI.FAR£ AGENCIES AND POOR

. RELi£~ INSTITUTIONS• AND (2) TO AMALGAMATE A SHOUSES WITH PUBLIC AS­

SISTANCE AOENCICS AND TO UNl,-Y THEIR ADMINISTRATION fS WELL AS THEIR

P,.otl'ERTIEII (3) TO GIVE TO CCM.11TTE£9 OF' PU8LIO AISISTANCI: NEARLY

XOLUSIVE JUAl9DIOTION IN MATTER Of" PUBLtO WEU'AR IN THE O~UNE

f EU't £XTENOtNQ IT l'tJNCTIONS TO INCLUDE PREVENTIVE ACTION AND OOIAL

WEIIAAE PLANN1fNQI (4) TO OFIEATE AH INTERCOMMUNAL WE'-fl"ARE CCMMISSI ON,

♦

-2-

HAVI EITHER Q NERAI. Off SPECIAL F'UNCTI ONI (ICE INTERO UNAI. l.fl"ARE

00MP.US$f0N) I (6) TO At>Mlf P'OAMALL\" WOMEN A ,UU..-,-LEDQED MEM £AS 011"'

CCMOS9t Ofl' PUBL.10 ASSISTANCES (6) TO IMPLIP'V ANO REVIS REGULATIONS

GOVE IN THE INVE:STMENT Ofl' FUND t TH ACQUI ITION AND THP: AOMI I TRATION

0P' PROflE TV 8£LONGINQ TO THI!: C tBSION 0,- PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AS ~LA ,, TO U DEATIJ( OAK THEIR P OPEATIESJ (7) TO C~E~TE A PECIAL -Vat.IQ

A ISTANC~ P'UNO IN £ACH PROVINCE (IEE PROVINCIAL FUNOS)J (8) TO IN$P£0T

AND EAVtc .

CSTAOLI HAN 0P'Fl0£ 01'1' tD£NTffl"f0ATIO ro SOOtAL f ~ITUTIONs.

IN CCINCLU ION, THIS PUBLIC ASSISTANT ACT CREAT S A9 THE MAIN 0P RATIN<11

AGENCV ,-OA PUBLIC ARI:' A PuBLtO Ass, TANC£ 0 fTTEE Wt-flCH IS Sri" UP

tN £AOH C 14\JNC Y THE COMMUNAL COUNCIL.

AOMINf STAATION

As IT WA SAID 8£,.0RE, THE MAIN OPERATING AC£NOY I TH Pu&LfC AISfSTA OE

c~,T~EE (POMMts ION ASSISTA~C, PuaLpau,) 0 £AOH COMMUNE. THIS OPE ATtNI

AQ~NCV I OfREOTLV OONTROLL£0 IV THE COMMuNAL AUTHORITIES ANO INOIAECT~V

P"ORMS A ~ART OF THE GENERAL GOVE~NMENT STAttOTURt OONTAOLL«D BV THE OOVERN•

MCNTAL AUTHORITIES IN THE PAOVfNOE, ANO rtNALLV BY THE APPROPRIATE DIVISION

IN THE CENTRAL oV£RNM£NT. THI DJ tSION ts CEN£RAL.LV ATTACHED TO ONE 01'

THE I ER DE!tA TMENTS SUCH A9 LA OR OR HEALTH (1939 - THrt MJNfSTRV fN

OF' SOOtAL WE._,.AAE WAI THlt f NI S TtW OP" LABOR

ANO SOCIAL W!U-AAt). THE HfCHER A9StfTANC£ O~UNCIL IS ATTACHED TO THI!

EOICS9ARV,sa UP AN fNYflTIGATfON

OF'P'fO!: IN ANY COMMUN£ OR ANY CCINMUNAL UN I ON AFTEl'I AN APPROP'Rf ATE HEAfUN

OP" THE: 8001£S C0NCERN£D,

fT MIOHT •~ ~TfONEO H~E THAT THlt MINISTRY o,- HEALTH ROUGH Df P'TEA!:NT

l"ARE: ACTIVITY wHICH f SP£01ALLY C0NC!:RN£D WtTH HEALTH ltO EM IN TH

C :4UN£. ,

A, e,e1b•O Aaaest,~OE AOMi•ue:1~

t. 00MPOSl,~1 l TH£ PUBLIC AS IITANC OOMMtSSfON CON tsTS 0,, 'l'HAEE

-3-

f • ,EMBltRS 01? tGNATEO av TH£ COMMUN& OOUNOIL. THE MEM8EAS AR£

APPOINTED av THI! 0 UNlt cou It. P'OR SIX Vl:A ,AND so AS TO

£PRESENT IN EXACT R ORTION TH VA JOUS POL.ITIOAL ARTIES

£NTED AT THE COUNCIL.

2. THE MAYOR (BURG AISTRE) 0, THE OOM\1UNS.

3.(£V£NTUALLY) SPECIAL ADMfNISTRATOR PROPERTIES ltN00RS£0 TO

THe: PuaLtc

l}. TAUCTUR£1 PoL.fOY-MAKING ODY 0, TH£ PUBLIC A9 ISTANOE C0t,.t.1fTTEE

tTs lcNttRAt. ts rrt (AssE:MaLu GlfNtRALg)t THE AoMtNtsTRATtvc

eoDv t tTs BUREAU (BUREAU P£RMANEN]);)r AND THE ERATIN Boov

OP' THE COMMtTTElt ts fTS OSFF'ERENT IN$TITUTI ONS AND ITS PERMANENT

TAJl"P"• THIS PERMAN£NT STA,.,,. CONSISTS 0, StORETARV OP' THE COM­

MISSION• TREASURER Of" THE 00MMISSl0Nt AND TH£ CH IOAL T1'F

CONSISTIN Ofl' HEALTH PER do AND OTHER PAOFgs IONAL WORKERS SUCH AS

MIDWIVE. VISfTtNQ NURSES, OOtAL WORKERS. £TO. IT MICHT ae

POINTED 00T THAT WHILE THE MIMBER ANO DEPUTY MEMBERS F THE

PUBLIC ASSISTANCI COMMtTTE~ SITTt IN TN GENERAL E TING ANO

tN THE BUREAU ARE EI..EOTED P'OR A TE or SIX YEAR. THt PERMANENT

STAI',- HAS CtVIL SERVfCE STATUS.

£R£VER NEC SSARV, THE PusLtc AsstSTANCE O ~ITTE MUST SET UP

SPECIA~ Al ISTANOE COM'-11TTEES TO WHICH IT DELEGATES ALL tStTINQ

THE tNOIQENT AND AOMINtSTEAI O OF RELIEP'. THESE COMMITTEES CAN­

NOT MAKI! DEC t S t ONS OF THlt IR O BUT MUST F AI..L IACI< F'OR OEC IS f ONS

ON THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE. THus, W£ MAV A9 THAT THE

PtCIAL CQMl.11TTEU ARE TH£ OOUNTEAfltA T OF THE AMERICAN rl£LD OR­

GANIZATIO S•

IN Bt, CITIES THE COMMITTEE IS DIVIDED I TO SEOTtONS 1 EACH SECTION

Oftl!RATINO tN A o,,.,e:REHT PART or THE TOWN. Two OA MORE ADJACENT

COMMUNE9 IN THI! SAME PROVINOC MAY FOAM AN tNTEACCIMMUNAL UNION P'OR

THE l'ROVt~ION OF' PUBLIC AIStSTAN0£ • ANO MAV SET UP AN I TEA-COM­

MUNAL O~ITTEt FOR THIS PURPOSE•

:i:u. FuNOTIONII TH NOTIONS oP" THE PUBLIC As ISTANCE COMMITTEE ARE

TO GRANT R£Lt&:F P'OR THE INDIOli:NT AND TO PRoVID A QUATE MEDICAL

I

ATTENDANO AND TREATMENT F"O THEM.

I

(I) , ASYLUMS rOR

THE fNSANE 1

(2) MATERNITY OSPITALI P'OR NEEDY OA AB

(3)

(4)

(6)

EASES ANO EPIDEMIC

Al.MSHOUSES foR OR OLC,...AGE COUPLES

TH WORK 0,- TH PvBLIC As tSTANCE C ITTE CAN 8£ CLASSIF'IED 'NTO

F'OUR Bl OAT

) Poo R IEP'

HEALTH AND HOSPITAL SERVICES

PR£V£NTt ON 0,- 0ESTtTUtl ON

(0) GUAADIA~SHtP OF CERTAIN CATEGORIES OP' CHILDREN

(A) Po R REl.fEP' ts PROVIDED IN THE PORM ANO MEASURE MOST LtKEI..V

TO RESTORE THE BENEJl'ICI.ARV TO A .-osn, ON IN WHICH H&: CAN AGAIN suit­

POAT !-1fMSELP' ANO HIS 0EP£NOEN1'9• R LIEF' INCLUDES HELP THROUGH CAIH

ASSISTANOC,THAOUQH SUPPLIES IN KIND (P'OOOt CLOTHIN t BEDDING, FUEL

AND PHAAMACEUTICALS). ANO av WAY OF PROOUAINQ EMPLOVMtNT. IN THE

CA E OF' PERSONS ABLE TO WOAK 1 ftELlf:11' IS GIVEN PAEP'ERABLV IN THE P'OAM

OF' WAGES P"OR WORK DONE• FOR THIS PURPOSE THE C°""111'TEE I ENTITLED

TO SET UP ITS OWN WORK PROJ£0TS•WH04£VER POSStllLI, HoWEVER1

THC

COMMITTEE TRIES TO PROCURE £t41LOVM£NT roA THE INDIGENT THR UGH THC

NOIIIMAL 0HANN£L9 SUCH AS THE LOCAL MID PROFESSIONAL LA80R EXOHANGEI

(BOU!!!§ JU. TRAVAtl:) AND THE LoOAL AND PAOF'ESSIONAL &:MPLOVIIIIHT SER­

VICES (Qrr1gq Al P&.APAINI.&)• THE AGED ANO DISABLED WHO CAN~OT air

PAOVIOEO WITH OOOA RELIEF ARE PLACID WITH TH~IFt CONSENT IN SUITA■LI

PUBL,c OR PRIVATE tNSTITUTIONS OR tN THE CARE Ot PRIVATE PERSONS,

THE OoST oP RELIEP TO PERSONS UNDER 70 V£Aqs OF AGE t B BY THE

C UN£ tN WHJOH TH£ EASON 00NC£ANEO HAPPENS TO 8E

AS fNDIG NT.

N EC NIZEO

THE COT OF ASStSTANOC TO THE AGED VE 70 VARS OF A E AND TO CHILDREN

UNDER SIXT£ N YEARS OF AGE WHO HAVE LOST BOTH PARENTS

AND TO .LLEGfTIMAT OHILDACN NOT EOOQNIZEO BV THE ~ATHERt ts REFUND£0

TO TH! 00MMV~tTV ~HfOH PROVIDED SUCH R£Lf£P' IY TH£ BCNEFtOfARV ts OOMI­

Ctl..1!D F'OA RELIEF PU OSES IN ANOTH R COMMUNITY OR HA NO 00MfOIL£ tN •

8£1..GIUMJ IN TH! FO ER CASE THE OOM'JIUNfTV OF OOMfOtLE IS LIABLE FOR RE-

PAVMENT AJD tN Tl-fl: 1.ATTEA, THE STAT.

TH£ OOMMISStON ts REQUIRED BV LAW to ASSIST ALL WOMEN HAVING FULL

CHARGE Or ONE 0A MORE CHILDREN LtsS THAN t6 YEARS OLD, REGAADL.ESS OF

( ) HEAL.TH ~ HQSPIJAL FBVfCES J.!:! .I!!£ Cor,.1MUNE. ACCO DANO WITH .

THE PROVISIONS OF TH£ PUBLIC A&st TANCE AoT OF 10 MA CH 1925, TH£ AS­

SISTANCE COMMtTTt£S ARE AE UIRED TO PLACE AT THE DISPOS~L O THE IN­

HABITANTS OF THE 00tJMUN£ AOEQUATE MEDICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL ERVIOES.

THE ENEFtCIARfES HAVE THE FAEE CHOICE OF DOCTOR AND TH SU,.PLV OF

MEDICAMENTS, SPECTACLES, 8ANDAS£S 1 OATHOPEOIO APPLIANCE AND ARTIFICIAL

t.tMBS.

ALL. SERVICES ARE FAE£ AND THE COST OF THE MAINTENANCE AND T EATMENT OF

INDIG~NT PERSONS ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL AND ALL ASSISTANCE TO THEtR

~AMILV WHIL£ THEV ARE tN HOSPITAL IS ONLV REPAYABLE IV THE C~NtTV

ON}DOMtctLE OR av TH! STATE (SEE ABOVE).

LV THE COST 0P' THE RELIEF GRANTED DURING A B£NEFfOIARV 1S STAY IN

HOSPITAL TO HIS OEPENOENTS LIVING WITH HIM, IS REPAYABLE AS ASSISTANCE

TO HIS FAMILY• THE COST Of'" Mt:OIOAL TREATMENT FOR PROSTITUTES SUFFERING

FROM VENERE L DISEASES tS BORNE BY THE COMMUNE IN WHICH THEY PLY THEIR

TRADE• THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ACT US Al.SO RESPONSIBLE FO-. MATEANlTY•

HOSPITALS FOA NICEDV OR ~~\WOMEN, HOSPITAL.S ,-oR THE SICK OR

WOUNDCD, ISOLATED WARDS ,-OR CONTAGIOUS DISEASES AND EPIDEMICS, HOSPITALS

,oAp.AtADIHO OR CHRONIC AFFLIOTtONS (TU■ERCULOS1s, SVPHILts), SANATORtA. , ' , (

Al.M&HOUSICS ~OA Ol.0-AGE PEOPLE OA ,-oA AGtO COUPLES. IN SOME CASES THE

-6-

TH£ o-..,nE MAY ASK FOR TOTAi. OR PARTIAi.. AEIM8URS£MltNT 0, THC EX­

PENSE tF THE PERSON HAS MEANS• THE tNSTfTUTIONS o,. THE PuaLto Ass, T•

ANOE Co....,fTTEEI' MUST AtSPEOT THE PHtLOSOPHIOALt A£&, I iPJS• ANO POLITJOAI..

OPtNI OF THE DESTITUTE. THE 00MP.4tT1'EES MAV SET UP OUT•PATlltNTS t CON-

SULTINQ CENTERS ATTACHED TO THE HOSPfTAL OR MAV MAKE CONT ACT WITH

POLVOLtNICI OR PHARMAOtST, SUT MAV NOT OBLIQ! THE BEN£fl"l0fARltrS TO HAVE

THEIR OWN OHOfOE•

(c) P9EV£NTf?'j 2f DESTfTUTfON. TH COMf.ttTTr ts Al: PON IBL F'OR

TAKIN PREVENTIVE MEASURES AGAINST 0£STITUTfON fN 0A9~ P£0fF't£0 av THE

ACT AND AFTER HtARfNG THE oPtNfON °"' THE HIGHER As' TANOE COUNCIL. SuoH

PR£VINTIVE MEASURES MAY INCLUDE THE SUBSfDtZINQ OF NUR £Rf£• PAOVIOE

GRANT ANO AfO TO MUTUAL BENEFIT SOOITIES, ANO IN EN~RAL IV~ VPPOAT

TO USEFUL PAEV NTtV ASSOOIATfON •

') OF' REL f EF R£C t ID I ENTS

TO MUTUAL BENEFtT 9001ETfES SUCH AS UNEMPLOYMENT FUNDS, PEN ION rUNOs,

no, GtVfNG BEN~FICfAAV THE ,.AEE CHOlCE OF' INSTtTUTIONI TO WHICH HI

WANTS TO ELONO. IN SUCH A CASE, THE OOMMt"fTEE TRIES TO OBTAIN I~ POS•

t8L£ A ~UE9 CONTRIBUTION FROM THE PROSPCOTIVE MEMBER HIMSEL;'.

IN SOM£ CA

SHOULD 81 ENTRUSTED TO THE •uBLtO As­

SISTANOE Cor.t.ifTTEE/WHICH fS THEN CHAAOED WITH THEfR SUPPORT AND EDUOATtON.

THESE CASE, THE 00M'AtTT££ £X£A0fS OV R THE OHtLOqEN iw. ( l}UUJ..U~ ~

• Op TH£ HEAD ,. THE F AMt LY• ~ Nv.. ~ 1 ~ WV. ~

h~ IV. ADMtNI TRATfVE CONTROL& TH£ CRANTIN OP' AELt£,. AND THE ADMISSION ()fr tNDI-

GEN'T PERSONS TO fNSTITOTI ONS A WEI.I.. AS THltfR 0ISCHAR0£ l'ROM THE I!: IN Tl-

TUTtONS AA£ 0£CIOED UPON THE OOM.11TTEE OF' PunLtC ASStSTAN0 • A

PERSON WHO CON IDEAS HIM9£LP" UNF'AIR V TfllEATEO MAV LOOGE A k:>T T WITH

TH 00NCfLIATfON COf.NtTTEE. THIS 00NOILfATION C~tTTEE C

DEL~GATE OF' THE ALDERMANIC Cot.LE£ 0~ THE 00M\1UN£ AND F' TWO PA£ ENTA-1

TtVES 0,. TH£ COMMUNE fTStLF'. THE DECtstON o,- Tl◄ IS COM\ttTT E n,- OONotLATtON

,. BtNDINQ ,on THE PuBl.te AtStSTANOE COMMtTTE~. ON THE OTHER HAND, THI

-1-

COMMITTEE IS PLACED U DEA iHE I EDIAT£ SUP£RVtSION 01" THt AUTHORITIES

(Ip' TH£ 00Ml.1UNIS THE C UNE CouNOtL AND THE ALOE MANIC OLLEGE. BOTH

THESE OOIES HAVE TH RIGHT TO VISIT AU. IN TITUTfONS U DEA THE JURIS­

DICTION OF TH C ITTEE or Pu LIO A st T NOE TO E ALL oOCUM NT AND

TO MAKE SU E THAT THE Cat At TT£E ACT HIN TH L GAL~ AMEWORK STABLISHED

~O tTS AOTtVtTIES Y THE LA OF THE COVNTRVe TH OTHER HAN0 1 THE

COMMUNE COUNGfL APPROVES THE ouoo£T AND THe AOCoUNTS F TH£ PuRLfC AS­

SISTANCE COMMITTEES AS EU.. AS THE REGULATIONS CV RNINQ THE loMtNfST~ATION

OF' THE Cor.NITTEE• TH C OIL MUST ALSO AUTH!1 t Z£ MOST OF" THE

ORTANT DECISIONS AOt V THE C tTTEE 9EF' £ T EV CAN a EXECUTED•

•

•

V

,

D!atribution or u iona

The nUllber or UJifllJI.PlO"J'$d penont •• at no tiJDe di1trlbuted ennly

tbrou(;hout tho country but t ndad al•¥' to be higher in the Flwah t n 1n

the lloon diatrlets., owing to the conoentn.ticm in the to r or 1nduatr1e1

mo,t 1ubjeot to unempl~t. notably textiles.

Dur1 the yeara of 1er1oua anom.p1o:;•nt from 193o-i35, govorxaont

1oh-..e tor r• edyi th• poaition were a.till 1n their •roly a.tag", tn Um6,

howevor., ·th inat1tut 1 of publ1oworke achemes on ocmprehonaiv• 1oale,

and. tho devaluation of the !'rano, nre to la _ • ext nt reaponaible tor the

1aaprovemont n t 1 labor market. In 1937 JDGB.aunt •re introd\.loed tor the I

occupational ning or tho unompl.oyod, nd in 193 this •• •d• oca-

pul ory.

Tho ot'.ice · tionfll du Pl

Un&ilPl~1»nt Of'fieo)

th meaauro taken tCl

IDO(;.;tu· ~ omitcd to ne •ly' I lllillie.r1. :f'mnus yearly• (2) to cstablilh

conn otion b tween unaa.pl~1mertt J ( 3) :form a t t1 tioal 1ervioe capabl

or providin(; the authoriti s at &.tty 1von manent with tho oeee ry into

:tion re rdine the w:iemployment prob_001.

omen and Children. • The aot o ml th hour ot •orlc £or 'WQJDL'ln

and ohildr w.a that ot Fe-bruney 2vth, 1919,. undor w'h.1 night ark,..

prohibited for woman or a11 · r;oa and for boya Ullder 18 yeare. Eleven

oonaooutivo hours or rest at nicht re cQ11.pUl1ory.

llolida.yt ith fay

Up to the year l93e. hol dnye with pay in Belgium •er• granted only

to loyoea or pu 110 dopartn ta, provincial e.nc1 <"lOtllmmal adllintetn.tiont

and

1n a blito id1 1nclu

oonltNction, tur • j llery. and. lr~ •

Aa a :reault ot tho atlke o!' 1936, honver, tho id llolid&y• Act

(J y 8th, 936) waa pc..1u1ed, 'W!"\_oh ranted fl.nnUf\l d holS.daya ot 6 da1I

· to all aalari~ •ployee• and wage rnere 1n ommeroe • imU1t17 and the

General

In the course of the 19th century e ~tum beo e o highly induat~ial•

ta d nd

continue

ce rninc claoa 1nerea ed greatly in numbora. Thb 1nore ae

20th oentur,. • In r cent ee.ro th num.be:- or 00-earnera

1n

· 10 ind otr1 tion of Delgium c;avo bb·th: to u rios ot pa llol

oliti l tu.1d aooi l mov onto, all of wbioA wer 1nap1re b th~ do ir'o

to c ull'.\t con i ;;.i o wor.;. by law. ac, i vo ttor the 191~1918

de oeona:dc depression ot • ro r aa intarrupto

l 29-31. ut a furtho 1tep forward • made ln 1936.

t and Unetnployment

durin tl pre r- docade !'ollond

vet curvo of tho con a depressio • Un ploymont was at a

high 1 el dur l thos s conpo.r~u th to more r ourc.bl position in

th 1020' J th clet r1oro.t1on whioh aet 1n during the latter half of 1 30

co .t rued \ • c r ll'l33, .en at tho opth of the econaido dopreaaion I

I

, omp o·'?J\ont r<>n ocl ita poat~. Durl tho can that followod ther •s an

t\PP ociQ.blo i:Jt\ rov out 1 th la ur 1•ket. n b 1037 tho Ull{lll}lloytxl8nt

f f;Ul"O h d dropp<l J ut ur' n. th yo •. JUllt bofor th ":.ll.1.' t O po 1t1an

tlU t tl c. the occupq. lor. of.' ,;l e oountcy

the ti ur ·ore a nS.

for insu.r•d umm loyed 1n 1940 • bout 4001000 .. ,

Di1tr1~ ion o nczi.· Ol,incnt Inc1uatri<J

Th 1 duntrie moat ,criousl}· affected by ploynont ~.u-i this

od re ild "", ou .t: o la., to.xt let., an t naporc..• h. none of

1 h i

bu 1 1nz 1t

l olQ".\" 201000 durlne these ton •ee.re., whil in

nd o 19 °, • ~. p t.tory• and the

ffoc~cd in uatrie~•

n1w ,utrore !'rcn un plczymnt dur1nfi t c earl· 1930'• but noo ored

ita p01itt-:m re. tallf, e.n n no y r:1 just bGi'oro tho wa.r ha onl •

sli htl"' ore than s.ooo

public 1e"1oe1 •

~ulatione or labour Disputes

Conditio I of 1 bour in th ditfotte t indUatrio

and JB.Oro oxtenaively b)r , joint oammittee1 (oan.u• 1

ro ?"O"'ulAt&d ffl.Ore

r1taires),. oaapoaed

eque.llY of repretentativea or t e e loye • pr ,ontati or woz-ldng•

olaas organiao.ttona, and ,oc1olo i1te or ofr:tcic.11 ;,poi. t th stat ♦

Thoeo joint o<llllllitteea drow up oolleoti va e.groement• which could be ?'O'Vie eel

oitlte rlodionlly or ai'te notio& gi en by tho worke or mplo-;ers,

~cee oolleetivo ar;reo,aenta had thEt roroe or cont:re.ot1 f ly undertnken,

but had no l ... l n bindin fo oe. tor all tho .-bon ot an tnc!Ultey,

w have aeen,. reoour e to th •ttiko s nm,.U.ar occuronoo, although

actior. by tho joint acad.tt•o• tre tly prevented it.

Trade Uniont (S .di ts Ouvr1 re)

re mbera of the diti'e:rent

t de union or~an1•t1ons. Th trade nio nre ooncern,d with th defe. oe

o£ J.ntero ts or th ir her• 1 tt r• relate to' i.h 1r om leyment,

At tho 1m ~ tJY org&l ia d unu,.ploymcnt inaunnoO tund• and iautua.1

bemfit t'u1¥l•• tlewLlly tho tre.dD un1ona •re al o aft'Ulo.t•d to olitioal

party • In thia · tho trade unio , ooial ancl political or ni•t. ions nt th

wor~•ch.11 1ntorloc''ed: with ~ch otl r and "OOuld be divided into a raw larG• c oupa 'bo.aod. on th~ polit!cal nd r llcio conueotiona o!' thej.r 1'111lben.

Tho tro. unions wore 1--r on: iaationaJ that :t, to •aY., they were not

aot up by law :ad re outeide the control or tho publlo autbor1t1••• Th•)'

hcl.d no legal peracmal.S.ty. • on1)" union aotivitio• undiar covoM.lllllnt

aupervbion ra thoto aublidi;ed th publ1o mone;y, the un-.q,l~nt

1naUX'e.llOO mutlw.l. beno· it funda, A pOla1ble oonatitution for ,tato•rec •

niacd uni.Ollll for th ...u-iou• rad.G• ..... p ov1ded 'by law• But, 1n faot,

ll08t of th un:o!?.S for,:nt(1 r this law • ociationa of eaployer-1 or

•rohanta, tho e..-rnora in1 ra.t.thtul to the tonml& of tlw

tree trade union.

At the t1-e of th "" Get tivn in 1940 th ro re two in groupa

Within the Belgian tl"D,d union aovaaentt Sootal11t nd Chrl1t1t.:n. or tb"••

the tirat, known As the Cont, ~r tio 06ni mlo du Tn-.•11• had beo<UO a

'body o:f' wido ntluon'l a:nd e.uth rity, th a :iwmbor hip ·1n 1038 or

•·u ..... Ll~toly coo,ooo. It - t.ff lie.to to h.e Int nr.tion&l Fi.,dorc.tiou ot

do nion • '"ho at n T de union 1

e n J but th.e co~ro-1 line=3 or poliq-

adopted lr; th two odi w ro e o nti ll ., th ea du1·i ,his por1od,.

and in 193. • in rticula.r, th y re able to pres.ent e. unitod tront• ... he

Li,,_re,l Unione bad m«tJbel~nhi o£ only 10.000 in 1930, and th lr inf'luonoe

• l.i 1 le ;y oam.pariaon v1th that oJ.' th oth«" t o or ... tiona.

.. ·anie io

Ot'g&ni&tlt OWh

rioultural confer-enc • (Ca::lic "'l"l. oles) wor pu l of "1oial

t oo.nton.

ba e • o t1D. um.n1st ·1vo o judioi 1 uni • sueh

oir f'unotioru, r. d uo · BUD. l ·o uch beyoild t r

· sh a and o:mibi ... ion,1- re soc,. ..;od to for.ill provi oial h.Nnbera

bo r pro ento

1n oa<h p avi. co al elocte l21Cl'JJlbora to the Co e1l vup6.r1eur d' r1oulture,

ad • ory bo ccmpo !' thc::o i prosen~ : o , oi' a:i r~ ap o1nt

t 10 .5.niator r ,.. lou ... w.·o,. cl o!' oo•c,pto I

t; he. n i • as i inu.us ~ , t tat of

plox atx-uo urea t once oeonat1io, proi'oss'orel d

politioal.

(? nu·:s' Un_on), lth its 1oaci 1.,iart r at Louvain•.,. th•

or~ n ... :a1tions. It a an a soe~t1on or th

r p-- aeutod theh- ,ou. • c tl.nd • llbi ~l

1nte ts w1 t ill tt c {; tolic

I

1eh O- r.xr .ac.

The ex1,t1JiC union tor Cath olto ftlniiera in the lloon province• waa

the Union ~ricole llelgo1 tho non onc:mina.tional o~ tton -. the UPA

(Uniona Proto sio.

Obataote at10f ot Be ian lo.bow- Or · ni•t1o~

Bel ,1n indu t; 1c:.l 1'01P.ll'l~n oalli t·or inor aod

1oc:blat1cri. to protoct t·1e r int ,ta n rozul&te heir oond1t1orua or work,

aw alway, ooen unwilling to ocept t c i ea of a_nglo or oom.puleor:,

oorporation or tmion. F~odom o i'il t1on Lo e. trad$ or a i1ati0?1 and

tn cm to ohoos that orcan1 tion ha re alwe.ya beon tho ov rridt oharaoter•

istioe of Del ian trad unioni •

was The Seooure d*Hiver;o ated in ut\llllQ 19'0• but 11noe then an abloaf~

o lete ohange has n Npoft•d in the nera.l t.tt1tude OIIIU"dt it. At

th outeet it mat with popular diatavour beoaua••

(1) •• modelled on the nan interhilftte

(2) certain of it• leader, inapired nry little oontidenoe.

Cammitte I an f d by provlnoea, by a:rrondiH nt, and b7 OC1mnUJJe1.

Th first oampaign of the SeoOUZ'I d1Hiver did not • w1th llllf 1uooe1a,

but inoe the early part ot 19'1, a at ady evolution ln the SeoO\U"I d•Htver

oan be traced.

Dlttennt Souroe■ •

(1) tnooa tu: now include, an additional oontr1but1on tor the 8eoour1 4'B1Ttr.

:lncama ot 11000 tN.noe to 61000 troa. per month, tor inatanoe, ~ abarge4

with contributiou -varying tr one tn.nc to ,6 tr. Banb and buai1M111 hOW1•1

an alao apeoially taxed, and a apeolal levy ot 0.1 peroent baa been added

to the tranam1111on tu:. Panar, a taxed at the rate of 10 tr. per

hi.. of oulti ftted land. ,

Secour• 4'H1ftl' (2) The pre....ar Loterle Colonial• bu bHn replaoed by a new l•1•¥'1ott.J7.

Thia lottery, the draw for whioh t&kea plao monthly, ya 10.542 prl••• (1nt'or-.tlon d&ti fl"m Jul l 2). 1nclud1 a f1nt pr1N of 2 million

tr. and a aecond pril• ot one a!llion tr. Bach draw bring• in a net pl"ot1t

to the SeoOUZ'1 •n1ver. after p&YJMllt of prls••oney and •xpena••• ot about

J11ne 111111on tr. or an annw.1 rnenw. ot aar than 100,000,000 tr.

(I) Voluntary ■u'baor1pt1ona oontribute lug 1y to the b et ot the 8eooun

d•W:nr and in addition, it reoeift■ large number, ot gift• in lciDd, clothing,

,.tetable1 and 10 torlhe

(•) .Ul good, oonti1oatecl by the publio ·authonti•• tnm blaok arbt

clealera are handed onr to the S.oour1 d1B1ver.tlhenner poaaible th••• aN

41.atrlbutec! directly to the poor. Alt rnati vely, they a 1old and the

prooeecla paid into the tuna, ot the Secoura 4'H1wr.

(6) laerwa f•t••• aiu. and 10 , in aid o£ the Seooura 41Hiver are

~\dJ,rmuc:hoat he oountey by the lnatitutian and it1 branoh ocmaltt•••

(6)

1

0 by pr!

081u1 bat lei tran hlic authoi-1tl•••

• l'VV' erpl~fl la t\Ulla e1t · r to all....S.. •

a • OZ" to aHl■t whole •• lo ulati. ••••

•o forth.

1 • atabl1a

a bUll tr.

The toll tl

lt1

•••o 1at1 tr

:t, th Se un a• ver bu •~ ocme14• bly more

pio ot its aotivi y 1 2t '

600 000 tone ot ltl'l buuct. 11 000 000 - ... 1upplu in ~••u, 1 ooi., eta. 11 ooo ooo 1. or ■tn to hl14rn op1e.

lliO 000 par 11 •nt to prlaomn ot wv. 000 000 vi,,,,_11,Jj tablet cli•tl'lbutect

90 000 i. ot od•U:ver ll dlltl'l butect to oblldnn. 10I 000 000 tr, allooated to •noua obarlttea.

t furn1 h 4 by publlo &11iatame oaaltttte1.

Chl14 . U«re and countq 110115!&!. Speotal .ttmt, n been _.. alnoe

the war to arpm.• boll~ D4 1t p1r.tou 1n th• 00\1DtJl1 tor th tlclml

ot the oS.t,-.

urc::an:1.satlo in t e 00\lntry ot h I tor ch11dre

2 _ 20,000 l A.110 1natlt~lont

Jeum••• 4e la Croix •llloAljM,, Ba, oout and Oirl Gulde 0rgasu1Atlona, P019n cte

In 1

Lltopold III• Pro J\lftnt\ml 11owr.1o. :vw crpm..a -- or oat 11 to pron.ae ~Olllltry ho11da),t tor t

ahU n • about 91000 • baw ■pent hol~

tr w.ry1ng lengtib ln hitatrland.

lwdl1h CCllld.ttM orgu.llecl but ~ did not ta.lot plaa., ••ue• 0.JW.U twlied ndtalon tor t-•• mlt■e

to •ltablt.1h the "RCll9 Altnd• tor oh11ven.

l,eobl organSatlon ha■ bee. ,et up to arJIW.DJ~ t hi b111-.tt1 ot own