Article: Over a million persons receiving social benefits.

On an average day last year, 1.4 million persons aged 20-64 were receiving government aid in the form of sickness benefits, disability pensions (30), unemployment compensation, benefits from labour-market programmes or welfare payments on a full-time or part-time basis. Converted to full-time, this is equivalent to more than a million persons, or some 20 percent of the population aged 20-64 (see Diagram 149).

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With more persons unemployed and more on disability pensions, the number receiving social benefits will rise this year and next year. In 2005, unemployment will decrease, and fewer will be receiving sickness benefits, but total ...

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