2014: "aus Almosenempfängern anspruchsberechtigte Bürger zu machen." ("...to turn paupers into entitled citizens.")
Anton Proksch in Austrian social security system

The project aims to describe and analyse the role and influence of the former Secretary General of the Österreichischer Gewerkschaftsbund (Austrian Trade Union Federation) (from 1945 to 1956) and former Minister of Social Affairs (from 1956 to 1966) Anton Proksch on the development of the Austrian social insurance system.

His period of office as Minister of Social Affairs can be characterized as the "period after the Allgemeines Sozialversicherungsgesetz (General Social Insurance Act)," as the main issues of this time must be seen as results of this Act, passed in September 1955, or strictly speaking, the problems that arose or couldn’t be solved with the passing of this act: the adaptation of pensions dating from the period preceding the system of the Allgemeines Sozialversicherungsgesetz, which finally lasted until 1965, when the Pensionsanpassungsgesetz (Pension Adaptation Act) was passed; the question of funding the health insurance system or the inclusion of the self-employed and farmers into the health insurance and pension scheme system, which marks the transition of the social insurance system from being regarded as part of the labour question to the so-called welfare state. The improvement of benefits and the enlargement of the groups of insured individuals, which took place during the period of Minister Anton Proksch, was also due to a favourable economic development.

Anton Proksch came from a family of modest circumstances and was deeply rooted in the trade union movement from his early childhood. As its Secretary General, he played an important role in organizing the Österreichischer Gewerkschaftsbund and in leading it to its dominant role in Austrian social policy. Proksch was also one of the leading figures in negotiating the Allgemeines Sozialversicherungsgesetz. He owed his nomination to Minister of Social Affairs to his position in the trade union. As a minister, he emphasized the importance of the Gewerkschaftsbund for the social insurance system and was its energetic agent.

His conception of social insurance was inclusive. Therefore he urged the inclusion of self-employed and farmers into the social insurance system, collaborating with farmer’s representatives. Proksch proved especially determined in the adaptation of the pensions dating from before the Allgemeines Sozialversicherungsgesetz, which succeded only in stages until the Pensionsanpassungsgesetz was passed in 1965, and also in the problem of funding the health insurance system. Proksch opted for state contributions to the cost of the social insurance system for social-ethical reasons. The health service was also very important to him. He initiated and promoted an institute for the treatment of and research on addiction, which is now named after him.

Anton Proksch’s lasting service to the Austrian social insurance system is his important contribution to the extension of the social insurance system based on his inclusive concept of social insurance and his determination.

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