On Wednesday, 16 January, the Social and Employment Matters Committee of the Saeima started considering a draft law that will create a comprehensive legal framework for voluntary work.

“NGOs have been waiting for a long time for a legal framework regarding voluntary work. During today’s meeting, representatives of responsible institutions, as well as organisers of voluntary work, confirmed that such a framework is very much needed. However, during the discussion, we concluded that the current wording of the draft law has to be improved significantly, and we identified several problems which we will have to address together with public institutions and practitioners,” reported Aija Barča, Chairperson of the Committee which is responsible for the passage of the draft law.

Before the Draft Law on Voluntary Work, which was drafted by MPs, is put to a vote by the Saeima in the first reading, the Committee requested the relevant line ministries and NGOs to give their opinion within a two-week period. Experts’ opinions are also needed in order to determine whether laws which currently constitute the legal framework for voluntary work also have to be amended, indicated Barča.

The aim of the new Draft Law is to facilitate voluntary work and public participation, and it defines voluntary work as public-benefit-oriented work performed by a natural entity voluntarily and without remuneration.

Unlike other EU member states, voluntary work in Latvia is regulated only partially by several legal acts; the lack of a uniform legal framework causes numerous ambiguities and problems in practice. Ints Teterovskis, voluntary work coordinator at the foundation Rīga 2014, noted that at least 2,000 volunteers will be involved in events related to Riga’s becoming the European Capital of Culture. The main beneficiaries of this legal framework will be volunteers because they will be able to obtain official proof of their activities and experience. Representatives from NGOs reported that voluntary work is highly appreciated abroad, and entries showing activities performed for public benefit are a significant part of people’s CVs.

Representatives from NGOs urged MPs to improve the wording of the Draft Law and thus develop a legal framework which would not create an additional administrative burden for organisers of voluntary work and would not limit voluntary work to certain professions.

Meanwhile Arvils Ašeradens, Deputy Chairman of the Committee, raised the issue of whether there is a need for a state-supported register of voluntary work which would contain all relevant contracts and would serve as a source for statistical data. It is also important to understand how the involvement of experts in voluntary work will be regulated and how, for example, medical doctors, construction workers or accountants will be held responsible for mistakes they might make while performing voluntary work.

MP Elīna Siliņa expressed concerns that the legal framework for voluntary work can be used as a cover for illegal employment and urged everyone to work diligently on the wording of the Draft Law. It is also important to establish a system for risk insurance because, unlike paid employment, voluntary work is not subject to taxes.

MP Andrejs Klementjevs called attention to the fact that the current wording of the Draft Law allows children above the age of 7 to be involved in voluntary work and thus raises questions as to who will assume responsibility for a child’s safety and who will be held liable for any accident that might occur, especially in view of the fact that it is not mandatory to sign a written contract for voluntary work.

Authors of the Draft Law indicate that the Draft Law on Voluntary Work is necessary because it will provide a supportive and comprehensive legal framework for voluntary work, which, in turn, will facilitate the development of voluntary work and will improve the environment in which voluntary work is performed. The amount of voluntary work in NGOs and municipalities is increasing from year to year; therefore, a special law is needed. Until now, voluntary work was partially regulated by the Civil Law, the Youth Law, as well as the Associations and Foundations Law.

Recognition of knowledge and skills acquired during voluntary work through non-formal learning is a motivating factor which links the voluntary work to education. The summary of the Draft Law states that it will be possible for volunteers to use the experience gained during voluntary work in their future careers, and employers will be able to take this experience into account when selecting employees.



Saeima Press Service