CMNT_TITLE

The Committee has taken note of the information communicated by the Government in its reports for the period 1985-87 and 1987-89, concerning in particular Article 4 of the Convention.

The Committee would like to receive additional information on the following points:

1. Article 21, paragraph 1 (Review of long-term benefits currently payable). The Committee notes the information communicated by the Government in its report for the period 1985-87 and in particular the Government's statement that the rules for adjustment of currently payable benefits in the case of incapacity for work are applicable to all benefits. The Government has also stated in its twenty-second report on the application of the European Social Security Code, that it refrained, from adjusting the amount of the legal minimum wage and of social security benefits to the variation in the wages, during the period covered by that report (1988-89). It adds, however, that the purchasing power of social security beneficiaries, inter alia, has been maintained, on the one hand, by a reduction in VAT and social security contributions and, on the other hand, by a special 4 per cent raise in family allowance.

Bearing in mind the particular importance that the Committee attaches to the question of reviewing long-term cash benefits, especially in the context of the general economic situation, the Committee hopes that the Government will endeavour to take this provision of the Convention into account, and that it will also include in its next report, detailed information on the measure adopted to ensure its application, as well as all the statistics requested in the report form under this provision of the Convention.

2. The Committee has also noted with interest the information communicated by the Government in its report on the contemplated health insurance reform. It would be grateful if the Government would continue to supply information on all developments in this respect in its future reports.