What are your rights as a volunteer?
Everyone has the right to apply to be a volunteer and for their candidacy to be considered without discrimination. However, in certain cases, volunteers may be subject to selection criteria such as age or the conditions for involvement or training related to the special nature of the voluntary work to be performed.
If you are a volunteer, you are entitled to the full protection of your human rights when carrying out the work.
According to the law, as a volunteer, you have the right to:
- sign a contract about your volunteer work, if you wish, and to receive a personal volunteering certificate
- be informed of the tasks you will be performing prior to the commencement of your service
- safe working conditions that do not cause harm to health
- receive a reference letter confirming the performance and duration of the voluntary work, as well as experience and skills acquired
- refuse to perform volunteer service if it does not conform to your proficiency or skills, or if the work is not acceptable to you
- optional health insurance by the organiser of the volunteer service if you are carrying out voluntary work
- compensation of your expenses associated with the volunteer work
- unilaterally terminate your volunteering contract with seven days' notice to the organisation you are volunteering for and without the obligation to give reasons, unless otherwise stated in the volunteering contract
important The recruiting organisation must sign a volunteering contract with you if you volunteer more than 20 hours per month with that organisation.
important According to the law, volunteering is recognised as work experience if the volunteer has worked in the field corresponding to the specialisation obtained, which is confirmed by a volunteer card, a personal certificate and a volunteering contract.
important The law prohibits entering into a volunteer contract in order to avoid entering into an individual employment contract or a civil contract for the provision of services or any other such contract.
What human rights violation may there be?
Depending on the nature of the voluntary work that you are carrying out, several of your human rights may be affected. For example, if you are being discriminated against during the selection procedure or the work itself, i.e., if you are being prohibited from carrying out the work because of your nationality or ethnicity, your right to not be discriminated against may be violated. Alternatively, if the organiser of the volunteer service does not observe the requirements for safe working conditions and you are harmed, your right to life may have been violated. In addition, if you are forced to perform work, it is in violation of the prohibition of forced labour.