Persons in Volunteer Work

Persons in volunteer work are defined as all those of working age who, during a short reference period, performed any unpaid, non-compulsory activity to produce goods or provide services for others

“Any activity” refers to work for at least one hour.

“Unpaid” is interpreted as the absence of remuneration in cash or in kind for work done or hours worked; nevertheless, volunteer workers may receive some small form of support or stipend in cash, when below one third of local market wages (e.g. for out-of-pocket expenses or to cover living expenses incurred for the activity), or in kind (e.g. meals, transportation, symbolic gifts).

“Non-compulsory” is interpreted as work carried out without civil, legal or administrative requirement, that are different from the fulfilment of social responsibilities of a communal, cultural or religious nature.

Production “for others” refers to work performed:

•  through, or for organizations comprising market and non-market units (i.e. organization-based volunteering) including through or for self-help, mutual aid or community-based groups of which the volunteer is a member;
• (ii) for households other than the household of the volunteer worker or of related family members (i.e. direct volunteering).

Resolution I. Resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization, the 19 ICLS