Social security in Gylias
Social security in Gylias is one of the most comprehensive in Tyran. The Gylian social security system is highly advanced, crucial in reduction of inequality and guaranteeing decent living conditions for all Gylians.
History
A variety of mutual societies were constituted during the Gylian ascendancy to provide aid to individuals.
The first legislation creating social programs was instituted in Alscia, while it was a province of the Cacertian Empire. Alscia developed a mixed welfare state based on the principle of social insurance. Assistance provided by the government coexisted with mutual societies and a strong cooperative movement.
The Free Territories saw a massive expansion of public assistance. The Free Territories prioritised the provision of social services, in line with their anarchist principles. While lacking the institution of the state, the comprehensive character of Free Territories social security made it comparable to a welfare state.
A unified social security program was created at the federal level during the Golden Revolution. It consolidated existing public assistance programs together with new legislation, and instituted coordination with the vast network of existing cooperative and community organisations.
The social security system has remained a cornerstone of the Gylian consensus since its inception.
Principles
Social security is guaranteed by the Constitution: Section 2, Title 3 guarantees the right to an adequate standard of living, from which numerous other social rights are derived.
The hallmark of the system is its comprehensiveness. Coverage and provision are universal. Assistance is distributed to all people who fulfil certain criteria, with a minimum of bureaucratic interference.
Organisation
Social security is overseen by the Ministry of Social Security and Protection at the federal level, together with associated administrative agencies.
Provision of social services is carried out by municipalities, who coordinate with regions based on agreed plans.
Components
Social security payments are referred to as "assistance payments" (French: paiements d'assistance), a terminology preferred to that of "welfare" or "benefits" which are perceived as exclusionary and discriminatory.
Assistance payments include:
- Disability assistance — for those with disabilities.
- Unemployment assistance — for the unemployed.
- Pensions — for pensioners.
- Student assistance — for students.
- Housing assistance — for people having trouble meeting housing costs.
- Children's assistance — for parents raising children.
- Injury assistance — for accidents, workplace injuries, and invalidity.
- Carer assistance — for full-time care providers.
- Social assistance — for other payments and support, including eradication of poverty.
In addition, all Gylians receive public dividends from the profits of public organisations and the Gylian National Investment Fund.
Additional non-monetary components of social security include paid parental leave, paid annual leave, free school meals and milk, subsidised transportation and housing, free parental classes, and parental packages known as "baby boxes".
Public education and universal health care are technically separate from the social security system, but are fundamentally linked with it as in a conventional welfare state.
In practice the generosity and universality of social security makes it similar to a basic income system. Several regional governments are experimenting with transforming their social security provision into a basic income or negative income tax system.
Finance
Social security is financed by a combination of general taxation, payroll tax divided between employers and employees, and direct allocation by municipal, regional, and federal governments.
