The so-called white-collared worker no longer, has any greater security
of employment than his collarless com- rade ; and the report of the Unemployment . Insurance Statutory Committee to the Minister of Labour .recog- nises that, in this respect, there is no distinction between manual and non-manual worker. The Committee recommends that the limit of remuneration at which non- manual workers can qualify for unemployment insurance be raised from £250 to £400. They calculate that this would add 400,000 to the number of those who, already qualify for benefit and £800,000 each to the contributions of the State, of employers and of employees. Me Insur- ance Fund would make a large profit. The Committee has been wise to separate the question of unemployment insurance from that of health insurance ; the non-manual worker in the 1250-1400 class should not be excluded from unemployment insurance because administrative difficulties prevent him from qualifying for health insurance. These white-collared workers who are already unemployed would, of course, not benefit immediately, and the proposal would lay a further burden on industry ; but it promises to many who have now no protection some shelter from the icy blast of depressions that will inevitably. recur.
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