Welfare laws of the Benacian Union

Union-State policies

The official policy of the Benacian Union is that every subject should be enrolled into a guild specific to their profession and it is the Guilds of Benacia which must accordingly provide for the health, social, and welfare needs of the subject. However even the Benacian Union, however grudgingly, concedes a measure of obligation and responsibility towards those of its subjects who are in its direct employ.

Similarly the three grand stakeholders of the Union-State, the military, the Honourable Company, and the Nationalist & Humanist Party, make their own direct provisions for those who serve in their cadres.

Nutrition

State policy in the Benacian Union, set by the High Presidium of the Benacian Union, mandated a policy national food security and the provision of adequate nutrition for all citizens on a prioritised basis determined by an individual recipients overall utility. In addition to foodstuffs available in the open market the UGB also maintains a comprehensive system of rationing supplemented with subsidised canteens for key workers.

The allocation of food rations came into effect from 01.IV.1673 with the rationing of essential foodstuffs and strategic materials introduced throughout the Unified Governorates. After 1.VIII.1706 AN the rationing policy was expanded and standardised across the entirety of the Union State. As noted, the rationing of foodstuffs was implemented in tiers broadly aligned to status and utility:

1. Basic Ration:– milk (4l), eggs (6x), meat (150g), butter (50g), margarine (50g), edible oil, tea, cheese (30g), sugar (100g), jam (50g). Available via weekly allocations to all citizens in amounts determined by availability.
   1. Children's Supplementary Ration:– milk (1l), fruit, cod liver oil. Supplementary daily ration issued to children under the age of seven.
   2. Protected Persons Ration: Set at three-quarters of the level of the available Basic Ration. Allocated via weekly allocations, apportioned for issue daily by Protected Persons Camp administration. Meat and alcohol-free version of Field & Industrial Service Ration to be issued as a daily supplementary ration for those Protected Persons engaged in useful service at the direction of higher authority.
2. Government & Guild Service Ration:– bread (800g), eggs (1x), meat (230g), butter (50g), margarine (50g), edible oil, coffee, cheese (50g), sugar (225g), jam (60g). Supplementary weekly ration available to employees of the High Presidium of Benacia Command, the Benacian Union Defence Force, and the civil executives, or else to workers employed by companies affiliated to guilds recognised by the Chamber of Guilds and Corporations.
3. Field & Industrial Service Ration:– bread (80g), water-biscuit (20g), processed meat (150g), coffee or tea, sugar, salt, rum. Supplementary daily ration issued to personnel engaged in intensive or arduous labours. Distributed directly to recipients in situ via appropriate means.
4. Higher Government & Guild Service Ration:– Breakfast - bacon and tomatoes, bread, jam, and cocoa. Lunch - wintergleam pudding, roast pork or lamb, potatoes, bread and jam. Tea - bread and jam. Supper - ox-tail soup, roast beef, whisky and soda, leeks, rice pudding, coffee. Supplementary daily ration available to Government, Guild, Political, and Corporate management cadres - regimental officers or above. Available via workplace catering facilities.

Fish, potatoes, and vegetables remained exempt from rationing whilst commercially viable stocks were available. Penalties for violations of laws regarding rationing normal resulted in the payment of fines, the serving of a writ of cudgelling upon the offender, or else, usually in instances of serious violations such as hoarding or black market profiteering, with a period of mandatory service in the Benacian Labour Reserve.

State pensions

• Set at 25% of final salary. Restricted to honourably discharged members of the Benacian Union Defence Force, employees of the Civil Executives, and partners in a fruitful union (a marriage resulting in 2 or more offspring). Paid for by a poll tax of 1% on all citizens in employment and a 4% special levy upon childless citizens over 30 years of age. Entitlement age set at 70 (mandatory retirement age).