What is the BG Verkehr
why should every bike courier in Germany know them?
This article contains the most important questions in our perception up to the topic of the exemption possibilities / contribution reduction possibilities from the Berufsgenossenschaft Verkehr
In addition to the obligations under trade and tax law, every self-employed person should also take care of the necessary insurance. The legally prescribed accident insurance protection is ensured by the Berufsgenossenschaft Verkehrswirtschaft Post-Logistik Telekommunikation (BG Verkehr). The statutory accident insurance protects all employees in a company. In addition, the BG Verkehr (BG Verkehr, responsible for transport and traffic) also provides compulsory insurance for entrepreneurs. This has been decided by the self-government, which consists of equal numbers of employers and employees ( Statutes of BG Verkehr, §§ 46 ff., the complete statutes can be found on the BG Verkehr homepage). Here is the link: https://www.bg-verkehr.de/die-bg-verkehr/aufgaben-satzung
RADKURIER24:
According to my information, after you have registered as a business as a self-employed bicycle courier, a message will be sent to you via a data channel of the respective trade office (BG-Verkehr). Is this correct?
BG-VERKEHR:
That is correct. We receive the business registration certificate electronically. However, there is also a legal obligation for companies (= self-employed couriers) to register themselves with the relevant trade association (=BG-Verkehr).
This is regulated in § 192 of the Seventh Social Security Code (SGB VII).
Employees working for the company are insured by law in the statutory accident insurance. In addition, at the BG Verkehr (BG Verkehr, responsible for transport and traffic) the entrepreneurs are subject to a compulsory entrepreneurial insurance by virtue of the statutes (§§ 46 ff., the complete statutes can be found on the homepage of the BG Verkehr). Here is the link: https://www.bg-verkehr.de/die-bg-verkehr/aufgaben-satzung
RADKURIER24:
Will the couriers be contacted directly by you afterwards?
BG-VERKEHR:
Yes, we write to every entrepreneur we come across.
RADKURIER24:
What happens if a bicycle courier is involved in an accident (while working as a self-employed bicycle courier?) / Does BG-Verkehr include insurance cover?
BG-VERKEHR:
If the self-employed bicycle courier has not been exempted from the insurance obligation, he is insured against accidents during work and on the way to and from work. In short, the insurance benefits include medical treatment and rehabilitation benefits necessary as a result of the accident, as well as injury benefits, pensions and benefits for professional and social reintegration. However, the statutory accident insurance does not include liability insurance to cover personal injury and property damage to the other party involved in the accident.
RADKURIER24:
How much is the annual fee?
BG-VERKEHR:
In 2018, the annual fee for a bicycle courier was approximately 730 euros. A discount of 25 % is possible if two conditions are met: There is no accident burden and the insured persons have been members of BG Verkehr for at least three full years. In the case of a contribution reduction, the contribution is reduced to approx. 548 Euro.
RADKURIER24:
Are there any possibilities of exemption / If so, which ones? / If so, is there any protection left at all?
BG-VERKEHR:
Under certain conditions, entrepreneurs can be exempted from the insurance obligation upon written application.
After the exemption, they will no longer be covered by insurance. This is not possible for employees who may be employed. The insurance cover (still) exists by law.
The prerequisites for exemption from the entrepreneurial insurance obligation are (according to § 46 of the statutes)
– The entrepreneur is permanently not or only marginally (less than 15 hours per week or not more than 2 months or 50 working days per year) active in the company.
– The entrepreneur regularly employs more than five people on an annual average (part-time employees are converted to full-time employees).
For the period during which cash benefits are received within the scope of existence support measures (according to SGB II or III) for the commencement of these entrepreneurial activities.
RADKURIER24:
How is this annual fee calculated?
BG-VERKEHR:
In contrast to health and pension insurance, there are no fixed monthly contributions in the statutory accident insurance. After the end of a calendar year, the BG Verkehr determines the contribution requirement on the basis of the expenses incurred. This requirement is distributed by BG Verkehr among all member companies. In order to also be able to cover the expenses for the current year, it charges advance contributions.
The basis for the calculation of contributions and advance payments for the entrepreneurial insurance is the sum insured of currently 23,000 euros as determined by the statutes. The sum insured replaces the actual entrepreneurial income. (Entrepreneurs can also insure themselves at a higher level at their own request).
The factors for the calculation are:
– the sum insured
– the hazard class
– the contribution foot.
The hazard class represents the accident risk in the individual company groups. It is derived from the current hazard tariff of the BG Verkehr, which can be found on our homepage. https://www.bg-verkehr.de/mitgliedschaft-beitrag/beitrag/gefahrtarif
The contribution rate is determined annually by the Executive Board of BG Verkehr on the basis of expenditure and income.
The following formula applies to the calculation of the contribution:
sum insured x class of risk x premium rate / divided by 1,000 = annual premium
This article has been prepared from written correspondence with approval.
Status 2019
