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The draft law on Voluntary Work and the package of the related drafts regulate the relations regarding voluntary work, define the principles related to voluntary work, the subjects of voluntary work, their main aims, rights and responsibilities, the payment of expenses concerning voluntary work, as well as the legal basis for performing voluntary work, and other features.       

The RA Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Ruben Sargsyan said this presenting the legislative package for debate at the NA regular sitting in the first reading on May 23.

Touching upon the principles of voluntary work laid down in the draft, the Deputy Minister emphasized the importance of freedom and non-gratuity, as well as equality of rights of subjects of voluntary work.

It was noted that the main objective of the draft law is to help solve scientific, educational, cultural, social and other problems, as well as to provide assistance to people in difficult life situations.

According to the Deputy Minister, everyone can do voluntary work: there are no age or citizenship restrictions. Features are defined for citizens under 16 years of age.

Ruben Sargsyan mentioned that the range of organizations that will have the right to involve volunteers if necessary has also been planned. They are: public authorities, including state or local self-government bodies, state or community non-commercial organizations, other non-profit legal entities and institutions, as well as non-profit legal entities with 100 % ownership of the state.

It was noted that in order to engage in voluntary work, it is necessary to have a contract on voluntary work, which is considered a political and legal contract defining the basic requirements.

It was also stated that the legislative package gives an opportunity to inform about voluntary work during the work process, to define insurance in the contract, and compensation for costs incurred by the volunteer.

According to the Deputy Minister, voluntary work will be considered as work experience, which will make it possible to integrate into the labor market more easily. And for some jobs that are narrowly professional, the volunteer must submit a certificate or a power of attorney. 

It was said that hearings were held in the National Assembly regarding the package of drafts, as well as it was debated in the Head Committee and was endorsed.

Ruben Sargsyan stated that taking into consideration the opinions expressed during the debates, amendments will be made in the draft during the period from the first to the second reading.

The Deputy Minister answered the questions of the deputies.

In order to inform the public, the Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs Gevorg Papoyan inquired about the amendments made in the Laws on Cumulative Pensions and on State Pensions regarding the relationship between pension and length of service.

In response, Ruben Sargsyan mentioned that the new notion included in the law is work experience, which is not considered length of service. Therefore, no deductions will be made and no money will enter the pension fund.

The deputy of the NA Civil Contract Faction Alkhas Ghazaryan inquired whether the volunteer will be given a certificate of voluntary work after the completion of it.

The RA Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs responded that if volunteers want to present their work somewhere, they apply to the given organization, which is obliged to provide a certificate of voluntary work within 5 working days. The form of that certificate will be defined by the decision of the Government.

The deputy of the Civil Contract Faction Sergey Bagratyan asked whether it is possible to define voluntary work as work experience only for students.

In response, the Deputy Minister noted that with the new amendments to the Labor Code, an internship institute was introduced for future graduates or one-year graduates, which will provide an opportunity to gain experience. According to the Deputy Minister, according to the law, voluntary work is not considered work experience.

The co-rapporteur, a member of the NA Standing Committee on Labor and Social Affairs Lilit Stepanyan presenting the endorsement of the Head Committee, noted that there is a great experience of voluntary work in our society, but there was a necessity to promote it legislatively, which is what the draft is aimed at.

According to her, the draft outlined the sectors that are a priority for the state and made an exception for those sectors where certain professional knowledge, skills and certain experience are mandatory to engage in voluntary work.

It was noted that the developers of the draft avoided over-regulation.

During the exchange of ideas, Zaruhi Batoyan stated that the legislative initiative is about creating good, selfless giving, and the draft is aimed at institutionalizing a positive experience. The deputy urged elderly people, businessmen, and organizations to be actively involved in voluntary work.

The Chair of the Standing Committee on Labor and Social Affairs Heriknaz Tigranyan mentioned that a new institute is being introduced - the Institute of Voluntary Work and the Volunteer. According to her, public organizations and state bodies greatly benefit from voluntary work. Volunteers are involved in these activities with greatest love. The current regulation comes to fill legislative gaps.

The fact that the law itself brings about many amendments in other laws was highlighted.

It was also noted that certain amendments will be made during the period from the first to the second reading.